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SMSC and British Values
What do we mean by Spiritual, Moral, Social & Cultural development (SMSC)?
220. Provision for the spiritual development of pupils includes developing their:
221. Provision for the moral development of pupils includes developing their:
222. Provision for the social development of pupils includes developing their:
223. Provision for the cultural development of pupils includes developing their:
Taken from the Ofsted School Inspection Handbook September 2019 |
Why is SMSC important?
The statutory requirement that schools should encourage pupils’ SMSC development, as well as their academic progress, was first included in the Education Reform Act 1988, then in the Education Act of 2002 and the Academies Act of 2010.
2.1 Every state-funded school must offer a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based and which:
Taken from the National Curriculum |
A House of Lords education debate clearly recognised that there is more to life than achieving high standards in academic subjects. The task was described as:
“…the training of good human beings, purposeful and wise, themselves with a vision of what it is to be human and the kind of society that makes that possible.” (Hansard 2006)
This has expressed itself in education since then as the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda, SEAL (Social & Emotional Aspects of Learning), Community Cohesion & British Values.
The world around us has changed considerably and will continue to do so – a technology and social media revolution, environmental concerns, increased migration and travel, the threat from extremism to name a few - but the recognition that to thrive in modern society young people need life skills, a way of determining what is morally right, to retain a sense of wonder and curiosity towards the world around them, to be culturally and religiously literate, emotionally self-aware and mentally resilient, socially adept and appreciative of the importance of being part of a local, British and worldwide community with commonly held values remains unchanged.
How does SMSC fit with the Highworth vision?
Successful SMSC provision should permeate the whole school and be linked to everything the school does, its ethos, values and the kind of place it is. Our school motto is what we encourage our students to do and at Highworth we promote a community where all members are:
- Reflective: creative and innovative
- Eager: for life-long learning
- Aiming: to achieve their full potential
- Considerate: confident, independent individuals
- Happy: in a caring, respectful community
Where will I find SMSC in the school?
Successful SMSC is everywhere but not necessarily obvious. It might be visible through decisions taken by the Leadership Team, the interactions and relationships between everyone who is part of the Highworth community, staff or students. It can be found within the academic curriculum, lessons and extra-curricular opportunities or it can be promoted through the pastoral support system, vertical tutoring, opportunities for older students to mentor younger ones and Focus Days.
It is an expectation at this school that all staff can, and should, contribute to the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development of students. It is also an expectation that all students can share in positively enriching the experiences of their peers whilst at Highworth.
British Values
Schools are expected to actively promote British Values, particularly with respect to the Equalities Act of 2010. British Values were defined in the 2011 Prevent Strategy and the 2019 Ofsted Inspection Handbook as:
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Where will I find British Values in the school?
Successful British Values provision should permeate the whole school and be linked to everything the school does, its ethos, values and the kind of place it is. It can also be found within the school curriculum and throughout the pastoral programme. It is an expectation at this school that all staff can, and should, contribute to British Values. It is also an expectation that all students can share in positively enriching the experiences of their peers whilst at Highworth.