Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC)

At Upton Westlea Primary School, we have a firmly embedded set of values that are taught and lived out by the entire school community. Through regular worships, references in RE and Worldviews, as well as seizing upon opportunities in other areas of the school, children are explicitly taught the 12 values of: generosity, friendship, trust, service, truthfulness, forgiveness, respect, perseverance, compassion, thankfulness, justice and courage.

 

Promoting spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and British Values through RE and Worldviews:

Spiritual development is promoted through:

  • finding meaning and purpose when looking at the world; discussing and reflecting on key questions of meaning and truth such as the origins of the universe, life after death, good and evil, beliefs about God and values such as justice, honesty and truth.
  • puzzling over ‘ultimate questions of the meaning of life’ e.g. life and death;
  • considering how religions and other world views perceive the value of human beings, and their relationships with one another, with the natural world and with God.
  • valuing relationships and developing a sense of belonging and self-awareness.
  • developing their own views and ideas on religious and spiritual issues.
  • learning about and reflecting on important concepts, experiences and beliefs that are at the heart of religious and world views.
  • considering how beliefs and concepts in religion may be expressed through the creative and expressive arts.
  • reflecting on personal beliefs and values which form a perspective of life with respect to different religions and world views.

Moral development is promoted through:

  • enhancing the values identified within the National Curriculum, particularly valuing diversity and engaging in issues of truth, justice and trust.
  • exploring the influence of family, friends and media on moral choices and how society is influenced by beliefs, teachings, sacred texts and guidance from religious leaders and world views.
  • considering what is of ultimate value to pupils and believers through studying the key beliefs and teachings from religion and philosophy about values and ethical codes of practice and in so doing understanding and appreciating the viewpoints of others.
  • studying a range of ethical issues, including those that focus on justice, to promote racial and religious tolerance and personal integrity and in so doing respect the civil and criminal law of England
  • gaining an understanding of and respect for the range of religious and world views and developing an opinion.

Social development is promoted through:

  • considering how religious and other beliefs lead to particular actions and concerns.
  • investigating social issues from religious perspectives, recognising the diversity of viewpoints within and between religions and other world views as well as the common ground between them.
  • developing the skills and personal qualities necessary for living and working together as part of a wider community, for example through discussion around key beliefs and ideas from religious and other world views.
  • articulating pupils’ own and others’ ideas on a range of contemporary social issues.
  • acceptance and engagement with the British values of democracy; rule of law; individual liberty; mutual respect and tolerance in relation to those of different faiths and beliefs.

Cultural development is promoted through:

  • promoting a sense of enjoyment and fascination when encountering people, literature, the creative and expressive arts and resources from differing cultures including their own and those of others.
  • considering the relationship between religion and cultures and how religions and beliefs contribute to cultural identity and practices.
  • celebrating diversity by promoting racial and interfaith harmony and respect for all; combating prejudice and discrimination; contributing positively to community cohesion and promoting awareness of how interfaith cooperation can support the pursuit of the common good.

British values are promoted through:

  • an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and respected and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour.
  • encouraging tolerance, mutual respect and positive attitudes towards diversity.
  • exploring different religious codes for human life and comparing these with the rule of British law, e.g. how the Decalogue was the basis for British law.
  • develop an understanding of the importance of individual liberty (which is protected in law) to choose and hold a religious or non-religious world view.
  • understanding religious teachings on the rights and value of the individual and exploring the importance of fairness and democracy; the rule of law and justice.

(Based on ‘Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools’ DfE, Nov 2014, pp.5-6 and Ofsted’ s definition School Inspection Handbook September 2015)

 

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