Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development (SMSC) is about everything we do at TCS, to help pupils build their own personal values, have positive relationships with others and become responsible young citizens in society. SMSC development supports pupils to be kind, thoughtful and caring and to be able to live and learn alongside people with different beliefs, cultures and lifestyles.

Our provision for pupils’ Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural and Emotional development (SMSC), builds on our values of our education. An important part of SMSC is to support our pupils to engage with British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and respect for different faiths and beliefs.

The importance of SMSC

Ofsted stresses the importance of SMSC. It’s part of the inspection framework. Clear guidelines were set out in the subsidiary guidance to inspectors published in April 2013 for inspectors to investigate the impact of the curriculum on pupils’ SMSC development.

Spiritual Development

We want our pupils to be reflective about their own beliefs, but also show interest and respect for the beliefs and faiths of others. We encourage pupils to reflect, not just on their own behaviour and the choices they make, but also on the skills needed to remain calm and focused on their learning.

Some assume spiritual development is about religious exploration or faith, but this is not the case – this subject is covered in EPR, the spiritual in SMSC is concerned with developing the non-material aspects of life, focusing on personal insight, values, meaning and purpose. Beliefs that help provide perspective on life may be rooted in a religion, but equally may not. Creativity and imagination is important, as is a sense of fascination, awe and wonder.

Opportunities for Spiritual development at TCS include:
• Learning together to value the ideas and contributions of all young people in all subjects.
• Providing a varied and exciting curriculum that inspires young people and makes learning enjoyable.
• Coming together in assemblies and special events to share learning with each other and with parents and the community to reflect on our learning experiences.
• Relevant and challenging EPR (Ethics, Philosophy and Religion) lessons.

Moral Development

The moral element is largely about choices, behaviour and how you live your life. It’s also about personal and societal values, understanding the reasons for them and airing and understanding disagreements. Sessions in tutor time or assemblies, or in class, might explore the consequences of decisions, other people’s needs, and ways of learning from experience. Moral development in at TCS enables pupils to build a framework of moral values which regulates their personal behaviour. It is also about the development of understanding of society’s shared and agreed values.
Opportunities for Moral development at TCS include:
· Pupils working together to discuss and agree on what they need to do to create a safe, friendly and inclusive environment for learning.
· Opportunities in the curriculum for our pupils to offer their own points of view and to be able to listen to and value those of others.
· In every classroom and throughout the school environment, young people are encouraged to make positive behaviour choices and develop strategies to manage conflicts effectively.

Social Development

Social development shows pupils working together effectively, relating well to adults and participating in the local community. This element of SMSC includes a significant area of personal growth, ranging from engagement with society’s institutions to the skills for successful personal relationships.
Opportunities for Social development at TCS include:
· Making a positive contribution to the community through fund raising, volunteering and engagement in community projects.
· Supporting pupils to develop the skills needed for living in a democracy through activities such as elections for the School Council.

Cultural Development

Cultural development is about understanding and feeling comfortable in a variety of cultures. Schools might create opportunities for pupils to experience art, theatre and travel. Valuing cultural diversity and challenging racism is important.
Our Enrichment days and creative curriculum allow the pupils the opportunity to learn all about different lifestyles, backgrounds and beliefs other young people have.

Opportunities for Cultural development include:
· Providing opportunities in the curriculum for pupils to visit places of worship and share their beliefs with others.
· Enabling our pupils to enjoy and appreciate a variety of artistic, musical and cultural experiences, including drama, music, singing, choir and sports

Personal Development 2023-2024