What is SMSC?

SMSC stands for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

All schools in England must show how well their children develop in SMSC.

What does SMSC look like at Borough Green Primary School?

First of all, SMSC is not a separate subject; it is integral to our Vision, Mission and Ethos:

School Vision

At BGPS we believe children need to be physically and mentally healthy to be able to take decisions and deal with any challenges.  To achieve this, we develop a range of skills and every child is at the centre of our ‘Circle of Courage’ which has four main elements: belonging, mastery, independence and generosity

Our Mission Statement at BGPS is ‘Learning Together with Kind Hearts and Determined Minds'

As such it is woven in to everything we do and it is lived through our daily experiences and interactions with each other. Some examples where SMSC can be found throughout the curriculum are identified below though it should be noted that this is by no means an exhaustive list; merely a ‘flavour’.

Spiritual

In RE and PSHCE we ensure a broad balanced curriculum to include a range of world faiths and encourage children to be reflective about their own beliefs and respect for different people’s faiths, feelings and values. The ‘Creative curriculum’ which is made up of both the foundation and core subjects is planned around themes and contexts which is inspirational and meaningful to children. It instills a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them, encouraging the use of imagination and creativity in their learning and developing a willingness to reflect on their experiences.

Moral

In the daily life of our school we develop children’s ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and an understanding of the consequences of their behaviour and actions, this is the rationale behind our behaviour policy. We use ‘growth mindset’ throughout the curriculum cultivating enquiring minds and igniting an interest in investigating and offering reasoned views about moral and ethical issues, and being able to understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others on these issues.

Social

Our school has children from many races, faiths and none, and from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. Our children work and socialise happily with each other. Children of all ages are regularly looking for ways to raise funds for a variety of worthwhile causes, planning, advertising and sometimes setting up their own stalls at school events demonstrating their willingness to participate in a variety of communities and social settings, including by volunteering and clubs run by children for children are common place at Borough Green. Children cooperate well with others and we employ children as ‘play leaders’ so our children are developing their ability to resolve conflicts effectively. Children therefore develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain.

Cultural

Through the taught curriculum of PSHCE and RE children are exposed to the notion of the range of different cultures within school and further afield and respect for different faiths and cultural diversity. We develop children’s knowledge of Britain's democratic parliamentary system through PSHCE, the election process of our House Captains and for school council where councillors are voted for by the children at the start of each year. Children show a willingness to participate in and respond positively to artistic, sporting and cultural opportunities in our own school such as our whole school Art Experience the children also attend events with other primary schools in our district.