SMSC Across the Curriculum

We promote spiritual, moral, social and social development by...

• Developing confidence and expertise in language, which is an important aspect of individual and social identity.

• Enabling pupils to understand and engage with the feelings and values embodied in high quality poetry, fiction and drama.

• Developing pupils’ awareness of moral and social issues in fiction, journalism, magazines, radio, television and film.

• Helping pupils to understand how language changes over time, the influences on spoken, and written language and social development.

• Themed weeks with a focus on books raising moral questions linked with diversity and inclusion.

• Texts providing children with different contexts of real life issues.

• Children given the opportunities to be independent and responsible for their own learning.

• Debates held in English lessons across certain topics to develop children’s respect and thoughtfulness whilst sharing points of view.

• Wide range of texts and novels with links to different cultures so to encourage children to respect others.

• Pupils learn how to use language in an imaginative way, drawing on reading knowledge and considering how words have changed over time.

• Pupils develop awareness that right and wrong in situations raised within texts and novels.

• Participation, creativity, reflection and independence encouraged in English lessons.

• Discussion work, in pairs or larger groups is incorporated into lessons and helps and encourages pupils development.

We promote spiritual development by...

• Children are engaged in deeper thinking with regards to problem solving.

• There is a sense of wonder in the exactness of mathematics as well as a sense of personal achievement in solving problem.

• Making connections between pupils’ numeracy skills and real life.

We promote moral development by...

• Maths encourages children to look at, discuss and evaluate a range of social and moral issues in the world.

• It can sometimes draw upon other areas of study such as history and geography.

We promote social development by...

• A requirement for verbal reasoning.

• Working in groups or teams to solve problems.

• Sharing resources.

• Children have the opportunity to discuss their learning with their peers.

We promote cultural development by...

• Maths exposes the children to range of approaches to solving problems and reasoning skills.

We promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development by...

Science contributes to children’s SMSC development through:

• Encouraging pupils to reflect on the wonder of the natural world that we have created.

• Awareness of the ways that science and technology can affect society and the environment.

• Consideration of the moral dilemmas that can result in scientific developments.

• Showing respect for differing opinions, on creation for example.

• Co-operation in practical activity and group work in order to achieve an aim.

• Study of human physiology including the function of the brain, lungs and heart and investigating effects of diet and exercise on their bodies to remain healthy.

• Looking at and considering how to maintain certain habitats and the responsibilities we have surrounding this for our future survival.

• Study of evolution and how these ideas have changed through time.

• Study of planets and the ethics of space exploration.

• Application of these transferable skills into real life situations.

• Researching scientists and understanding how their findings have shaped the world today.

• Science contributes to children’s SMSC development through:

• Encouraging pupils to reflect on the wonder of the natural world that we have created.

• Awareness of the ways that science and technology can affect society and the environment.

• Consideration of the moral dilemmas that can result in scientific developments.

• Showing respect for differing opinions, on creation for example.

• Co-operation in practical activity and group work in order to achieve an aim.

• Study of human physiology including the function of the brain, lungs and heart and investigating effects of diet and exercise on their bodies to remain healthy.

• Looking at and considering how to maintain certain habitats and the responsibilities we have surrounding this for our future survival.

• Study of evolution and how these ideas have changed through time.

• Study of planets and the ethics of space exploration.

• Application of these transferable skills into real life situations.

• Researching scientists and understanding how their findings have shaped the world today.

We promote spiritual development by...

• The study of Geography develops a sense of curiosity and the of how our planet works and has developed. 

• Children are encouraged to explore the roles that people and groups of people have played in the changes seen in the world over time. 

• Geographical tools and media are used to guide children in developing a sense of self and the world. Children explore how the two are interconnected. 

We promote moral development by...

• Children are encouraged to show compassion for people, animals and the environment. We explore the challenges that our planet and the livings things on it are facing. Children explore global events and comment on how these impact on our world and how we can minimise this impact.

• Through our wider curriculum, children are encouraged to take part in work that encourages them to reflect on and empathise with the challenges our world is faced with.

We promote social development by...

• Children will explore the similarities and contrasts that have exist today and have existed historically. They will explore how our geography impacts on the opportunities that we are faced with. The children will explore their immediate, local and national localities to help them understand the differences in our world between living things and environments.

• Children will also be encouraged to build up their own social development through collaborative and team working activities.

We promote cultural development by...

• Children will study, and be encouraged to gain an understanding of people from different cultural backgrounds. They will learn about where and how they live and how natural and physical processes impact on their lives.

• They will explore what it means to be a global citizen and how we can be accountable for our actions.

• Children develop an understanding of their place in the world and how we interact with others.

We promote spiritual development by...

• The study of History involves a sense of curiosity and the mystery of how and why events in the past happened.

• Children are encouraged to explore the role played by important individuals, for good or ill, in the shaping of the world we live in.

• Artefacts are used to give children a sense of the past and aid children in understanding the people who produced and used these objects.

We promote moral development by...

• Children will be encouraged to show compassion for people facing dilemmas and to empathise with decisions which people in the past made and the reasoning behind these decisions.

• Children are asked to consider and comment on moral questions and dilemmas. Events and beliefs in the past will often be at odds with what we would consider unacceptable today. 

We promote social development by...

• Children will explore the similarities and contrasts between past and present societies and be made aware of how, in the main, we are very fortunate to live in ‘the modern world’ which links with our Christian values.

• Children will also be encouraged to build up their own social development through collaborative and team working activities. The study of social issues is a common theme in History lessons.

We promote cultural development by...

• Children will study, and be encouraged to gain an understanding of and empathise with, people from different cultural backgrounds.

• They will examine how other cultures have had a major impact on the development of ’British’ culture.

• Children develop a better understanding of our multicultural society through studying links between local, British, European and world History.

We promote spiritual development by...

• Children are introduced to the work of great Artists and experience wonder and awe at the achievements of these great works of art.

• Children also experience great admiration and respect for their peers’ work when they see the level of achievement and progress.

• Children study artwork with spiritual or religious themes and are encouraged to produce work that reflects their own spirituality.

We promote moral development by...

• Children are encouraged to show compassion when assessing the work of others.

• Children understand how their comments can impact on others.

• Displays around the school show a variety of art work from different age groups and abilities. This promotes children to be positive about their work and increases self esteem.

• Children study artists who produce work which may comment on concerns regarding ethical issues e.g. Sokari Douglas Camp and slavery.

We promote social development by...

• Children often work collaboratively on class projects e.g. our Global Images of Christ pieces and Global Citizenship Artwork Week.

• Some year groups visit Art Galleries or take part in local competitions or initiatives as part of their enrichment e.g. Year 5 Dot Art and the PAN exhibition with many other local schools. 

• Children discuss and appreciate the artwork of each other, helping to photograph their sculptures and sharing their positive feedback.

We promote cultural development by...

• The artists we study all vary in their spiritual or religious beliefs. The artists are diverse and come from a range of backgrounds, gender, ethnicity, age, and lifestyle.

• Children have an appreciation for cultures and civilizations from around the world.

• Children have the opportunity to identify things we have in common across cultural, religious, ethnic and socio-economic communities. It helps pupils to understand the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own and others heritage. 

We promote spiritual development by... 

• Allowing students to be innovative, creative and reflective.

• Encouraging students to express their thoughts through their designing and their abilities through the making process.

• Investigating existing products and design aspects so that they can develop an understanding of what successful design is and how it can enhance our world.

• Facilitating the process of creative thinking and innovation which inspires students to use their talents and develop their self-confidence.

• Challenging students to seek solutions and adapt their thinking to consider the needs of others.

We promote moral development by... 

• Encouraging students to develop a sense of ‘moral conscience’ through focusing upon the moral dilemmas raised in designing and making new products.

• Focussing on issues such as Fair-Trade products, animal welfare and differing dietary needs. This allows students to have a voice and consider their own beliefs whilst listening respectfully to the beliefs of others.

• Considering the wider impact of design on the environment and encouraging students to consider carefully the materials & components they will use.

• Helping students to think about sustainability and how recycled and reusable materials can be used.

• Developing students’ sense of responsibility as designers and consumers.

We promote social development by... 

• Providing students with opportunities to work as a team and interact socially.

• Allowing students to share ideas and equipment and develop an understanding of how to work safely and with consideration of the needs of others.

• Promoting equality across the subject area and providing all students opportunities to develop a range of social skills such as respect and tolerance for the ideas of others.

We promote cultural development by... 

• Seeking to expand students’ knowledge of other cultures and their influences on design.

• Setting challenges to explore and understand different cultures through research, practical experience and sensory analysis.

• Encouraging students to reflect on their products and existing products and the possible impact those products might have on individuals within our diverse society.

We promote spiritual development by...

• Participating in individual activities that provide the opportunity for self reflection, awareness and challenge.

We promote moral development by...

• Participating in activities where children must show great sportsmanship.

• Encouraging children to work well together as a team to succeed.

• Offering support and advice to those who may need it.

• Treating everybody with respect.

We promote social development by...

• Participating in activities that involve co-operation, teamwork, competition, rules, self-discipline and fair play.

We promote cultural development by...

• Exploring the sports and traditions of a variety of cultures.

We promote spiritual development by...

• Children are taught to respect and embrace other languages.

• Children's empathy skills are developed through learning about cultures and traditions.

We promote moral development by...

• Children compare their own experiences with those of people in another country.

• Children appreciate learning French and feel inspired to learn other languages.

We promote social development by...

• Children learn to work independently and as part of a group.

• Children share resources and collaborate to develop their listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills.

• Children have the opportunity to communicate with native French speakers.

We promote cultural development by...

• Children gain insights into different traditions/ celebrations in France.

• Children learn the similarities and differences between French and English.

• Children know that respect is key and neither language is superior.

We promote spiritual development by...

• Children acknowledge advances on technology and appreciation for human achievement.

• Children understand how they can use technology to develop their own spirituality.

We promote moral development by...

• Children sign their user agreements annually.

• Children learn about different computer scientists and can reflect on challenges that they may have faced.

We promote social development by...

• Children are equipped for the challenges of living and learning in a technologically- enriched, increasingly interconnected world.

• Children support each other through peer support. They learn to collaborate and share resources. 

• Children appreciate how technology can help us to communicate.

We promote cultural development by...

• Children learn about e-safety and understand how to ethically use the internet.

• Children understand how technology impacts communities and mobilises communication.

We promote spiritual development by...

• Learning about different spiritual beliefs around the world.

• Learning about spiritual practices around the world.

• Feeling confident to share our own spiritual beliefs.

• Explore a range of religions and explore ways that people worship, celebrate events and show that they are part of a community.

We promote moral development by...

• Opportunities to reflect upon own self beliefs and beliefs of others.

• Discussions of what is right and wrong to different people.

• Reflection time, use of a stimulus to provoke thoughts on morality e.g. a book, poetry, artwork.

• Discuss the morality of different stories and why they are an important part of different religions and cultures.

We promote social development by...

• Discussion with others about worldviews.

• Sharing religious values, beliefs and practices.

• Learning from people in the local area.

• Children can learn about the world around them.

We promote cultural development by...

• Learning of different cultural beliefs, religions and practises.

• Learning about practices and ways of life across the world.

• Trying food from different cultures.

• Visiting different places of worship.

We promote spiritual development by...

• Encouraging the use of imagination and creativity when creating pieces of music.

• Promoting a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them.

• Having knowledge of, and respect for, the different styles of music and different peoples taste in music.

We promote moral development by...

• Showing respect when learning about different styles of music and where music comes from.

• Listening to others views and opinions about music.

• Praising children who perform pieces of music in front of others.

We promote social development by...

• Working together to compose music.

• Listening and responding to existing pieces of music, and those that we create ourselves.

We promote cultural development by...

• Understanding and appreciating the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped music.

• Listening to, exploring and composing music from a variety of cultures.