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SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural) and Personal Development, including weekly themes.

What is SMSC?

At Connaught Junior School SMSC is at the core of all we do. The purpose of promoting SMSC is to ensure that Connaught Junior School children are encouraged to develop spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness and to begin to make personal decisions and choices which reflect this development. Opportunities for the children to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally are provided throughout the curriculum, during learning sessions, in assemblies, at lunch time, playtime and extra-curricular activities.

The Connaught Junior School ethos is founded on teaching the whole child through our Creative Curriculum and the core values of being Confident, Caring and Committed particularly recognising the uniqueness and worth of each individual member of the school, both children and adults alike.

As our vision and values clearly state, At Connaught we believe passionately in developing the whole child through inspirational teaching coupled with a broad, balanced and creative curriculum. At the heart of our school are our three core values. These underpin everything that we strive to achieve for our pupils, staff, parents and community.

  • To be committed learners who enjoy learning, make outstanding progress and achieve.
  • To be confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
  • To be caring citizens who make a positive contribution to society.

We aim to develop enquiring and lively minds as well as the knowledge and core skills to enable children to thrive in an ever-changing world.   Our curriculum actively promotes the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs, and those of no faith.

Please find on this page, and via links, ways that we make SMSC provision for the children at our school. For more information on the Personal Development of children please look under Pupil Voice and PSHE.

 

SMSC Through RE

PROMOTING SPIRITUAL, MORAL, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Religious Education provides opportunities to contribute to spiritual development through:

■ 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

■ learning about and reflecting on important concepts, experiences and beliefs that are at the heart of religious and other traditions and practices

■ considering how beliefs and concepts in religion may be expressed through the creative and expressive arts and related to the human and natural sciences, thereby contributing to personal and communal identity

■ 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 themselves as unique individuals

■ valuing relationships and developing a sense of belonging

■ developing their own views and ideas on religious and spiritual issues.

Religious Education provides opportunities to contribute to moral development 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

■ 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

■ studying a range of ethical issues, including those that focus on justice, to promote racial and religious respect and personal integrity

■ considering the importance of rights and responsibilities and developing a sense of conscience.

Religious Education provides opportunities to contribute to social development 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 as well as the common ground between religions

■ articulating pupils’ own and others’ ideas on a range of contemporary social issues.

Religious Education provides opportunities to contribute to cultural development through:

■ encountering people, literature, the creative and expressive arts and resources from differing cultures

■ considering the relationship between religion and cultures and how religions and beliefs contribute to cultural identity and practices

■ promoting racial and interfaith harmony and respect for all, combating prejudice and discrimination, contributing positively to community cohesion and promoting awareness of how interfaith co-operation can support the pursuit of the common good.