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Spiritual, Moral, Social & Cultural Development

SMSC and British Values

Twynham School promotes SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development) throughout the school curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13 and in many other areas of school life. Our aim is to ensure that all students have the opportunity to develop as great an understanding of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural issues as possible whilst studying and taking an active part in wider school life.

Spiritual Development

Spiritual development encompasses students’:

  • Ability to be reflective about their own beliefs that inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different religious and non-religious world views as well as people’s personal faith, feelings and values
  • Sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them
  • Use of imagination and creativity in their learning
  • Willingness to reflect on their experiences

Moral Development

Moral development encompasses students’:

  • Ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong when making moral decisions, readily applying this understanding in their own live and, in doing so, respect the civil and criminal law of England
  • Understanding of the consequences of their behaviours and actions
  • 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 Development

Social development encompasses students’:

  • Use of a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with students from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
  • Willingness to participate in a variety of communities and social settings, including charity work, volunteering cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively
  • Ability to develop their social skills in terms of oracy through presentations, discussions and debates and learning to share their views appropriately whilst listening and respecting other students personal knowledge and viewpoints
  • Acceptance and engagement with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different religious and non-religious world views, faiths and beliefs; the students  develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain.

Cultural Development

Cultural development encompasses students’:

  • Understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and that of others
  • Understanding and appreciation of the range of different cultures, religious and non-religious world views within school and further afield as an essential element of preparation for life in modern Britain
  • Knowledge of Britain’s democratic parliamentary system and its central role in shaping our history and values, and in continuing to develop Britain
  • Willingness to participate and respond positively to artistic, musical, sporting and cultural opportunities
  • Interest in exploring, improving understanding of and showing respect for different religious and non-religious world view and cultural diversity, and the extent to which they understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity, as shown by their tolerance and attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities

SMSC is developed in a wide variety of ways across the curriculum for all students.

Some examples are:

  • The pastoral curriculum through tutor time and assemblies which focus on specific themes linking not only to SMSC and British values but also the key Twynham DNA strands of determined, kind, aspirational, respectful, proud and responsible.
  • SMSC opportunities can be found within the full curriculum with specific subjects such as Religious Studies and PSHE having a more specific role, whilst lessons in a wide range of subjects look at SMSC implicitly for example in Geography and History looking at our place in the world.
  • Charitable events such as a 10 mile sponsored beach walk to raise money for a local charity and children in need events.
  • The Priory Christmas festival, the Rock challenge (dance), making links with BSO for students to play in concerts as well as whole school drama performances at the local theatre.

At Twynham School we recognise our obligation to promote and teach the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Within the curriculum we endeavour to give our students an understanding of the fundamental values that make Britain what it is.