SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) development
SMSC is the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the children in our school. The SMSC curriculum can be described as the ‘hidden curriculum’ as it is not taught as a discrete lesson, rather it is part of our whole school ethos which the children experience on a daily basis as well as being woven into our behaviour expectations and attitudes in school. SMSC might be most obvious within RE, PSHE/RSE and PE but our highly engaging curriculum here at Bedale Primary helps pupils to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally; it allows them to make sense of the world around them. We strive to prepare our pupils for the future. We want them to be life-long learners, respectful individuals and active citizens in modern day Britain. SMSC is recognised by the government as a significant means of promoting fundamental British Values and creating well-rounded individuals.
Ofsted Definitions of SMSC
The spiritual development of pupils is shown by their:
- ability to be reflective about their own beliefs (religious or otherwise) and perspective on life;
- knowledge of, and respect for, different people’s faiths, feelings and values;
- sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them;
- use of imagination and creativity in their learning;
- willingness to reflect on their experiences.
The social development of pupils is shown by their:
- use of a range of social skills in different contexts, for example working and socialising with other pupils, including those from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
- willingness to participate in a variety of communities and social settings, including by volunteering, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively;
- acceptance and engagement with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs; they develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain.
The moral development of pupils is shown by their:
- ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and to readily apply this understanding in their own lives, recognise legal boundaries and, in so doing, respect the civil and criminal law of England;
- understanding of the consequences of their behaviour and actions
- interest in investigating and offering reasoned views about moral and ethical issues and ability to understand and appreciate viewpoints of others on these issues.
The cultural development of pupils is shown by their:
- understanding and appreciation of the wider range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and that of others;
- understanding and appreciation of the range of different cultures in the school and further afield as an essential element of their preparation for life in modern Britain;
- ability to recognise, and value, the things we share in common across cultural, religious, ethnic and socio-economic communities;
- knowledge of Britain’s democratic parliamentary system and its central role in shaping our history and values, and in continuing to develop Britain;
- willingness to participate in and respond positively to artistic, musical, sporting and cultural opportunities;
- interest in exploring, improving understanding of and showing respect for different faiths and cultural diversity and the extent to which they understand, accept and respect diversity. This is shown by their respect and attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.
