Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development and British Values
At Chapel Street Primary School we believe our well embedded SMSC curriculum prepares our children well for life in modern Britain. We realise the personal development of our children is essential for them to reach their full potential. The SMSC development of all pupils is therefore at the heart of our ethos.
We believe that to learn effectively our children must:
- Feel happy, secure and valued
- Have their individuality respected
- Have their differences celebrated
- Have their difficulties understood
- Have their interests extended
- Have their talents developed and celebrated
The SMSC development runs alongside academic development enabling pupils to explore and develop:
- Their own values and beliefs
- Their spiritual awareness
- Their personal behaviour
- Positive and caring attitudes towards others
- Understanding of their social and cultural roots
- An appreciation of the diversity and richness of other cultures
Spiritual Development
Pupils are given opportunities to:
- Engage in activities which involve listening, reflecting, puzzling, searching for truth, for example in our RE curriculum with units of work including special places, the world around us and ourselves
- Develop an understanding of their own feelings, likes and dislikes through our arts curriculum with the appreciation of artwork, pieces of music, stories and poetry
- Engage in activities which involve questioning, valuing, creating, empathising, imagining
- Get involved in activities to help others e.g. Charity activities such as collections in response to disasters, Christmas shoebox appeal.
- Explore diversity and difference through units of work in: Geography, ‘Travelling around the UK’ Y1 and RE, Places of worship and celebrations.
- Appreciate the beauty of the natural world through visits Moral Development The school has:
- A clear Positive Behaviour Policy, updated annually, which is shared and understood by pupils, staff, parents and governors
- A clear system of individual and class rewards, such as star of the week, Headteacher’s awards and dojo points, all of which support the development of positive behaviours
- A clear system of sanctions used consistently across the school enabling pupils to take responsibility for their own actions
- Regular writing opportunities across the curriculum e.g. to express their moral values and to show an understanding of their rights and responsibilities and those of others
- Opportunities for pupils to develop an understanding of the principles of equality of opportunity (race, gender, disability, etc.) through assemblies, and the history curriculum covering famous historical figures such as Mary Seacole, Grace Darling
- Opportunities for pupils to develop an awareness of citizenship through the Student Council and the PHSE curriculum
Social Development
Pupils have the opportunity to mix with pupils from the other schools in the area through:
- Sporting events at different school venues
- Year 5 and 6 transition events with the Secondary Schools that they go to
Pupils experience democratic voting systems through the election of the Student Council.
The use of Kagan structures used across the curriculum promotes the development of a range of social skills as it requires pupils to work cooperatively, take equal turns and communicate constructively with their peers.
In terms of citizenship pupils are taught:
- To take responsibility for their own actions and make informed choices e.g. through the implementation of the Behaviour Policy
- To respect the rights of each other e.g. through the PHSE curriculum
- To co-operate on joint projects and activities e.g. group art sculptures, drama presentations, musical compositions, poetry recitals, team games and group dances
Cultural Development
- Children learn about their heritage and that of others through an enquiry led curriculum. This includes learning about the local area and contrasting it with Styal Mill in Cheshire.
- Significant sporting and cultural events evolving from the current news agenda are also celebrated.
Cultural events are planned in to the curriculum as well as extra-curricular activities:
- Visits to the Bridgewater Hall to listen and perform as part of a project.
- Visits to Central Library for a poetry festival.
- Visits to museums/places linked to topics e.g. Museum of Science and Industry
To further support the development of British Values, with the aim of fostering and developing tolerance in the society in which they live, the following opportunities are in place:
- Assemblies to commemorate national days, e.g. Remembrance day, Saints days
- PSHE lessons and assemblies to promote respect and tolerance
- Opportunities to hold school elections
- Visits and visitors to school