SMSC is taught at St George’s as a ‘hidden subject’. As teachers, we have a duty to shape the values, attitudes and character of the next generation. It is crucial for both individual pupils and society as a whole - this subject area contributes significantly to creating a ‘well rounded pupil’ by the end of Key Stage Two.
Our teaching of SMSC is woven like golden thread throughout the curriculum. It is evidenced throughout the school in children’s books, on displays and within every year group’s whole class RE book, demonstrating learning that has taken place within that particular year group.
SMSC development is taught through and reflected in all areas of the curriculum and through all aspects of school life. Pupils are provided with the opportunities to gain in knowledge and understanding and to develop the skills they need to participate in the life of the diverse community in which they live. Our curriculum provides our children with opportunities, across a broad range of subject areas, to experience life in all its diversity and to develop their knowledge of social, moral, spiritual and cultural concern and celebration. We challenge children to think deeply and wrangle with social, moral, spiritual and cultural issues, to debate and to learn to listen to and appreciate others’ points of view and others’ situations in the world.
Our extra-curricular activities include a wide range of artistic, sporting and cultural opportunities which encourage pupils to work together and use imagination in their learning. They are of an excellent quality, run by our own staff who uphold our Christian values and ethos. Residential experiences provided in Key Stage 2 give children positive collaborative experiences and opportunities to appreciate the value of friendship and further develop an appreciation of God’s world.
At St George’s our curriculum extends beyond the academic. We support pupils to develop in many aspects of their life so that they are able to flourish in all aspects of their personhood: physically, academically, socially, morally and spiritually. We aim:
Our teaching of SMSC is woven like golden thread throughout the curriculum. It is evidenced throughout the school in children’s books, on displays and within every year group’s whole class RE book, demonstrating learning that has taken place within that particular year group.
SMSC development is taught through and reflected in all areas of the curriculum and through all aspects of school life. Pupils are provided with the opportunities to gain in knowledge and understanding and to develop the skills they need to participate in the life of the diverse community in which they live. Our curriculum provides our children with opportunities, across a broad range of subject areas, to experience life in all its diversity and to develop their knowledge of social, moral, spiritual and cultural concern and celebration. We challenge children to think deeply and wrangle with social, moral, spiritual and cultural issues, to debate and to learn to listen to and appreciate others’ points of view and others’ situations in the world.
Our extra-curricular activities include a wide range of artistic, sporting and cultural opportunities which encourage pupils to work together and use imagination in their learning. They are of an excellent quality, run by our own staff who uphold our Christian values and ethos. Residential experiences provided in Key Stage 2 give children positive collaborative experiences and opportunities to appreciate the value of friendship and further develop an appreciation of God’s world.
At St George’s our curriculum extends beyond the academic. We support pupils to develop in many aspects of their life so that they are able to flourish in all aspects of their personhood: physically, academically, socially, morally and spiritually. We aim:
- To promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils in order for all pupils to grow and flourish
- To ensure a consistent approach to the delivery of SMSC issues through the curriculum and the general life of the school
- To ensure that a pupil’s education is set within a context that is meaningful and appropriate to their age, aptitude and background
- To prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life
- To promote respect and consideration for differences in gender, race and religion
- To enable pupils to begin to develop an understanding of their social and cultural environment and an appreciation of the many cultures that now enrich our society
- To give each pupil the opportunity to explore spiritual, social and moral issues, and develop a sense of social and moral responsibility
- To seize upon spontaneous moments to enhance the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of pupils
SMSC is the over-arching umbrella that encompasses personal development across the whole curriculum. It requires us, as teaching staff within the school, to think about the type of people we aspire to be, the type of world we aspire to create and the type of education that we aspire to provide. SMSC is broken down into four strands:
Spiritual Development is the development of the non-material element of a human being which animates and sustains us and, depending on our point of view, either ends or continues in some form when we die. It is about the development of a sense of identity, self-worth, personal insight, meaning and purpose. It is about the development of a pupil’s ‘spirit’. Some people may call it the development of a pupil’s soul; others as the development of ‘personality’ or ‘character’.
At St George’s School, our understanding of spirituality is:
Understanding myself and my place within the world, recognising the beauty of creation and the possibility of something beyond the ordinary.
Moral Development – The essence of moral development is to build a framework of values which regulates their personal behaviour. It is also about the development of pupils’ understanding of society’s shared and agreed values. It is about the understanding that there are issues where there is disagreement and it is also about understanding that society’s value change. Moral development is about gaining an understanding of the range of views and the reasons for the range. It is also about developing an opinion about the different views.
At St George’s School, our understanding of moral development is:
Exploring, understanding and recognising shared values and considering the issues of right and wrong.
Social Development – ‘Pupils who are socially aware adjust appropriately and sensitively to a range of social contexts. They relate well to others and work successfully as a member of a team. Older pupils share their views and opinions and work towards trying to reach a sensible solution. They show respect for people, living things, property and the environment’.
At St George’s, our understanding of social development is:
Learners working effectively together and participating successfully in the school community as a whole. Pupil’s gain interpersonal skills that allow them to form successful relationships and to become a positive team member.
Cultural Development is about pupils’ understanding their own culture and other cultures in their town, region and country as a whole. It is about understanding cultures represented in Europe and elsewhere in the world. It is about understanding and feeling comfortable in a variety of cultures and being able to operate in the emerging world of culture of shared experiences provided by television, travel and the internet. It is about understanding that cultures are always changing and coping with change. Promoting pupils’ cultural development is intimately linked with schools’ attempts to value cultural diversity and prevent racism.
At St George’s School, our understanding of cultural development is:
Learners develop an understanding of their own culture and of other cultures locally, nationally and internationally and how cultures have shaped their own heritage and that of others. Children learn to feel comfortable in a variety of cultures and value cultural diversity.
Spiritual Development is the development of the non-material element of a human being which animates and sustains us and, depending on our point of view, either ends or continues in some form when we die. It is about the development of a sense of identity, self-worth, personal insight, meaning and purpose. It is about the development of a pupil’s ‘spirit’. Some people may call it the development of a pupil’s soul; others as the development of ‘personality’ or ‘character’.
At St George’s School, our understanding of spirituality is:
Understanding myself and my place within the world, recognising the beauty of creation and the possibility of something beyond the ordinary.
Moral Development – The essence of moral development is to build a framework of values which regulates their personal behaviour. It is also about the development of pupils’ understanding of society’s shared and agreed values. It is about the understanding that there are issues where there is disagreement and it is also about understanding that society’s value change. Moral development is about gaining an understanding of the range of views and the reasons for the range. It is also about developing an opinion about the different views.
At St George’s School, our understanding of moral development is:
Exploring, understanding and recognising shared values and considering the issues of right and wrong.
Social Development – ‘Pupils who are socially aware adjust appropriately and sensitively to a range of social contexts. They relate well to others and work successfully as a member of a team. Older pupils share their views and opinions and work towards trying to reach a sensible solution. They show respect for people, living things, property and the environment’.
At St George’s, our understanding of social development is:
Learners working effectively together and participating successfully in the school community as a whole. Pupil’s gain interpersonal skills that allow them to form successful relationships and to become a positive team member.
Cultural Development is about pupils’ understanding their own culture and other cultures in their town, region and country as a whole. It is about understanding cultures represented in Europe and elsewhere in the world. It is about understanding and feeling comfortable in a variety of cultures and being able to operate in the emerging world of culture of shared experiences provided by television, travel and the internet. It is about understanding that cultures are always changing and coping with change. Promoting pupils’ cultural development is intimately linked with schools’ attempts to value cultural diversity and prevent racism.
At St George’s School, our understanding of cultural development is:
Learners develop an understanding of their own culture and of other cultures locally, nationally and internationally and how cultures have shaped their own heritage and that of others. Children learn to feel comfortable in a variety of cultures and value cultural diversity.