SMSC and Values
"Leaders place a strong emphasis on values such as trust, cooperation and responsibility through the curriculum and the structures of the school."
Ofsted 2023
SMSC stands for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development. All schools in England must show how well their pupils develop in SMSC
We have an obligation 'under section 78 of the Education Act (2002) which requires schools, as part of a broad and balanced curriculum, to promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society.’
We consider the children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development to be at the centre of our school ethos and the responsibility of the whole curriculum.
We strive to provide and maintain for our pupils an education that provides opportunities so that they can explore and develop their own values and beliefs, spiritual awareness, high standards of personal behaviour, a positive caring attitude towards other people, an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the diversity and richness of other cultures.
We believe spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is promoted through the school ethos, the climate of the school, collective worship, all curriculum areas, the school behaviour code, extra-curricular activities and circle time activities. We have daily opportunities for reflection through a variety of mindfulness activities.
The DfE have reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”
School values underpin everything we do. They serve as a benchmark for all our decisions, policies and practices. We believe that children come first and that every child matters. British values are promoted in so much of what we do, not least during our school assemblies, curriculum and the whole school ethos of Values.
As well as actively promoting British values, the opposite also applies: we would actively challenge pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British values, including ‘extremist’ views.
We have a School Council, Fairtrade Council, Rights Respecting Council, Sports Council and Eco Council which meet regularly and represent the views of all the children in the school, which gives children responsibility.
In the document attached are just a few examples of how we promote British values at Heathwood.
School Monthly Values