Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (SMSC)
“…with God, all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development is the over-arching umbrella that encompasses personal development across the whole curriculum.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”
(Ephesians 3:20)
What is SMSC?
Spiritual Development: Exploring the mysteries of life and how these guide and connect us
Moral Development: Recognising the difference between right and wrong
Social Development: Getting along with each other
Cultural Development: Appreciating what shapes our communities
SMSC is about developing the whole person. As our pupils move through the school, we are committed to developing not only their academic standards and levels of achievement, but also their spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness. We aim to provide opportunities for our pupils to form their own identity; sense of place and purpose, giving them the confidence to question and discover who they are in the world and face the exciting challenges that lie ahead. Being a church school adds another dimension to our SMSC provision as our Christian ethos permeates all aspects of school life and underpins our values and mission.
"I have come that you might have life and have it to the full". John 10:10
Pupils’ spiritual development is shown by their:
ability to be reflective about their own beliefs, religious or otherwise, that inform their perspective on life and their interest in 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.
Pupils’ moral development 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 the viewpoints of others on these issues.
Pupils’ social development 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.
Pupils’ cultural development is shown by their:
understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and those of others
understanding and appreciation of the range of different cultures within school and further afield as an essential element of their preparation for life in modern Britain
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, respect and celebrate diversity, as shown by their tolerance and attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.