Spiritual, Moral, Social & Cultural Development

At Meadowside Primary School, we recognise that the personal development of pupils, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve. We therefore aim to provide an education that provides children with opportunities to explore and develop their own values and beliefs, spiritual awareness, high standards of personal behaviour, a positive caring attitude towards other people, an understanding of their social and cultural traditions and an appreciation of the diversity and richness of other cultures. This is embedded throughout all aspects of school life.

The aims of our SMSC education programme are: 

• to ensure pupils’ education at Meadowside Primary School is holistic rather than focussed narrowly on purely academic aspects of learning.
• to provide pupils with a rounded education, including learning how to work and play together, understanding and respecting others’ points of view, respecting and applying rules and understanding why these exist. 
• to prepare pupils to contribute to society and culture throughout their lives, and enable them to participate actively and positively in the life of the school, their local community and wider society.
• to encourage pupils to value themselves and their unique contributions to their own and others’ lives, and in turn to value and celebrate others and their qualities and abilities.

British Values at Meadowside

Our aim at Meadowside Primary School is to encourage pupils to develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in Britain. We actively promote the fundamental British Values and this forms part of our wider work in school with children in relation to their Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education (SMSC).

The British Values, as defined by the government, are:

•  Democracy
• The Rule of Law
• Individual Liberty
• Mutual Respect
• Tolerance of different Faiths and Beliefs

We teach a broad and balanced curriculum that teaches elements of democracy, rules and laws, the monarchy, equality, values and virtues, environmental awareness and understanding of different faiths. Actively promoting British Values also refers to challenging pupils, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to fundamental British Values. At Meadowside, values of tolerance and respect permeate all areas of school life. This creates a climate within which pupils feel safe and secure and therefore allows them to learn and develop. Pupil voice plays an integral part in driving the schools forward.

These British Values are promoted throughout the curriculum, across the whole school. They are also seen in the school ethos, policies, assemblies, special events and cultural celebrations. The following are a selection of activities that are evidence of our commitment to British Values.

We teach children about Democracy through:

• Children being involved in democratic processes e.g. voting for pupil councillors, rewards and incentives
• Junior Leadership Team
• Head and Deputy boys and girls
• Check in/ check out – discussing issues and forming opinions
• Visit from Governor/Local Councillor
• Assemblies

We teach children about Rule of Law through:

• School behaviour policy
• Reflecting of behaviour and learning during lessons
• Parent/ carer questionnaires about behaviour
• Visits from Police
• Assemblies

We teach children about Individual Liberty through:

• Understanding responsibility in school in terms of behaviour and learning attitudes
• Pupil roles in school – ambassadors, Sports Crew, Science Ambasadors
• School values
• Local and national fundraising
• Community links – residential home, food bank
• Assemblies
• Well-being
• Challenging stereotyping and bias
• Anti-bullying

We teach children about Mutual Respect through:

• PSHE curriculum and assemblies
• Positive relationships encouraged and modelled
• Inclusive ethos
• RE curriculum
• Anti bullying assembly
• Sports Day
• Trips – wider community
• Visitors
• Peer assessment

We teach children about Tolerance through:

• Assemblies – stories from world faiths and cultures
• Visitors
• RE curriculum
• Reflection opportunities in assemblies
• School curriculum
• Inclusive school
• Special assemblies – Harvest, Christingle, Remembrance Day
• PSHE curriculum