“Children’s experience of a rich and varied curriculum strengthens their awareness of the world around them, locally and globally and supports social, moral, spiritual and cultural development.  (SIAMS, 2016).

At All Souls’ CE Community Primary School, we value SMSC. We are inclusive and diverse! We not only actively promote the social, spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at our school – they sit at the very heart of everything we do! This was recognised by Ofsted during our most recent inspection: “The development of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding is a significant strength. It helps pupils to develop into sensitive young people who are a credit to their school.” 

We want our children to remember their SMSC lessons in our school, to cherish these memories and embrace the opportunities they are presented with! Bringing SMSC alive is important at All Souls’ CE Primary School. Our SMSC curriculum has been carefully crafted so that our children develop their Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural capital. We achieve this by carefully mapping out weekly whole-school themes to be explored and celebrated. These are underpinned by our eight school core values. Each half term is designated to a core value – with weekly themes relating to that over-arching core theme.

Each week starts with an introductory assembly – led by a senior leader – introducing the children to a different key theme. This theme is then explored in greater depth in class. 

 Our pupils are also encouraged to celebrate nationally recognised themed days. For example, our Year 6 children went to a local supermarket in aid of the Save the Children Day of Charity. They were given a tour of the shop and showed how to bag pack for customers to raise money. The children gave up their afternoon to volunteer in the shop, giving something back to their local community. Earlier this year, pupils and staff donned their odd socks support of the work of the Anti-Bullying Alliance. This marked a week of special events in school around friendships, bullying and on-line bullying led by our own Anti-Bullying Council.

Other recent examples include: exploring Queen’s Park to learn more about green spaces and discuss sustainability in support of the school’s Forest School/Eco-School Status. Collecting money for the ‘Children in Need’ appeal and donating food to the local food bank.

We use the vibrancy of our great town to learn from other cultures, respect diversity, co-operate with one another and appreciate what they have. For example, children from Year 5 went on an enrichment trip to Neeli Mosque. The children were invited into the Mosque by the Imam. The children learnt Arabic words for the prayer area and the prayer arch. Most of the time there was spent discussing how we feel when people look different to us and we how should try and accept differences and learn about them. What a great way to celebrate our whole-school tolerance week! Also, as part of our whole-school themed week on rule of law, pupils in Year 6 were visited by a local magistrate who shared with them his experiences of the courtroom as well as taking them on a virtual tour. Some of our pupils also visited Rochdale Town Hall and were thrilled at being able to sit in the council chambers and take part in a discussion on recycling.

Other recent examples include: preparing shoe boxes with gifts and essentials for children in Eastern Europe and writing letters of friendship to elderly people in local residential care homes.

We enrich our pupils’ time in our school with memorable, unforgettable experiences and provide opportunities which are normally out of reach – this piques their interests and passions. For example, earlier this year some of our Year 6 pupils were given the VIP treatment when they set off for Old Trafford to train with Lancashire Cricket club players. Also, as part of our whole-school Remembrance theme, pupils were inspired a special performance by the Imperial Corps of Drums. What a treat! We firmly believe that it is not just about what happens in the classroom, it is about the added value we offer to really inspire our children.

Each week our children will explore a new, thought-provoking age-specific question linked to the SMSC theme of the week and incorporating British Values. The key questions have visual resources to support the pupils’ ideas and reflections.

This is what Ofsted said in our last inspection…

‘Their overall achievement in both academic and personal development is excellent. These very strong outcomes are due to: exceptional leadership and management; high quality teaching; a curriculum of excellent quality; pupils' outstanding behaviour and attitudes to learning; excellent provision for pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.’

‘They gain an excellent understanding of how to lead a healthy lifestyle and very well-planned strategies are in place to develop pupils' understanding of community cohesion and their role in the local and wider community.’

‘Community cohesion is promoted outstandingly well, based on an in-depth analysis of the area the school serves. Particularly strong features include the work done with regard to the school's international status and the importance given to Fair Trade. Excellent partnerships with outside organisations provide experiences the school alone cannot, for example in sports, including water polo, and music.’

Through our provision of SMSC we:

• enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
• enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
• encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;
• enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
• further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
• encourage respect for other people; and
• encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England. The list below describes the understanding and knowledge expected of pupils as a result of schools promoting fundamental British values.
• an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process;
• an appreciation that living under the rule of law protects individual citizens and is essential for their wellbeing and safety;
• an understanding that there is a separation of power between the executive and the judiciary, and that while some public bodies such as the police and the army can be held to account through Parliament, others such as the courts maintain independence;
• an understanding that the freedom to choose and hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law;
• an acceptance that other people having different faiths or beliefs to oneself (or having none)
• should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour; and
• an understanding of the importance of identifying and combating discrimination.