SMSC / British Values

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (SMSC)

Aims and Values

At The Pingle Academy, our aims and values are central to our work with young people and adults and they are expressed through the following statements:

Work hard, Be kind, Choose wisely

This sits within the Affinity Learning Partnership statement that everyone "Belongs, Progresses and Thrives".

The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our learners is a vital aspect of our work.  We build our Personal Development work around these key values, ensuring that students are given varied and engaging opportunities to learn about and live our values.  Parents/carers receive regular updates, informing them of our pastoral offer.  

We underpin SMSC work with reference to RSE (Relationship and Sex Education) Principles, and incorporate safeguarding priorities identified by the Affinity Learning Partnership or our own local context.

Defining SMSC

Through planning work with staff and through our daily interaction with students, the following working definitions have emerged.  All four aspects involve getting our students to ask questions about their own experiences and the world, together with that of considering the feelings of others.

The ethos and climate of the school makes an important contribution.  We believe that the ethos of the school reflects our values and aims.  In all the above we believe that the following also play an important contribution:

• the pastoral system
• our form time programme, PSHE and Citizenship 
• our contact with parents/carers
• the emphasis on student care and support
• the Behaviour Policy
• the system of rewards
• praise
• target setting and review
• the anti-bullying policy
• the extra-curricular activities and clubs at lunchtime and after school
• the range of teaching and learning styles

In terms of learning experiences as a school we attempt, across the curriculum, to encourage our students to:

1. understand matters of equality specifically related to Protected Characteristics
2. understand the British Values and how they relate to areas of study
3. participation in surveys designed to collect and analyse perceptions and areas of concern to help us build an effective Personal Development offer
4. discuss matters of personal concern
5.  develop relationships with adults and peers
6.  develop a sense of belonging to a community
7.  be challenged by exploring beliefs and values, while deepening their own faith or beliefs
8.  discuss religious and philosophical questions
9.  understand why people reach certain decisions on spiritual and moral issues  and how these  decisions affect their lives
10.  experience what is aesthetically challenging
11.  experience silence and reflection