SMSC Vision and Rationale
The Vision behind Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education at Prince William School
The vision for Prince William School is to raise the aspirations of our students by nurturing a passion for learning, enriching their learning experiences, providing the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in adult life, and enabling them to secure outcomes which exceed their expectations.
We want to create confident, resilient and well-rounded adults who have an aspiration for self-improvement and are able to compete equally with their peers in a world beyond school life. We recognise that all students need to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. This development allows them to make sense of their world. Our curriculum helps students develop an informed and balanced view on world events, beliefs, and values of others.
Implementation
At Prince William School the promotion of students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is considered to be central to their education. People form their values and attitudes in childhood. These may change over time, but those values and attitudes formed in early life are likely to have a strong influence on the adult person’s role as a citizen.
As a school, we have a duty to provide a positive influence whilst at the same time allowing students freedom of expression and the ability to reach decisions for themselves. The example set by adults in the school and the quality of relationships is of particular importance in promoting spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
Aligned with this, we want our students to develop positive relationships with each other. This means informing and modelling good attitudes and behaviours towards each other and tackling peer-on-peer abuse.
Extra-curricular clubs, trips and visits, and other enriching experiences that promote fundamental British values are provided throughout the year across all year groups. Opportunities to demonstrate how democracy works is presented through tutor time activities.
Impact
We want to foster in students a love of learning for life and, combined with our core values of Respect, Ambition and Resilience, support the importance of the growth and development of all aspects of SMSC within the school community.
We recognise that the personal development of students, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve. Students encounter SMSC and British values in every aspect of school life; through their lessons, through assemblies, through whole school initiatives like charity days, through visiting speakers and presentations and through extra-curricular activities. Through this, they can understand and manage their own emotions and make sense of their own personal and social experiences.
Pupils start to have an understanding of how society works and the rights and responsibilities involved, becoming healthy, independent and responsible citizens. Students have a voice which they know can result in change. They have a sense of self-worth and play a positive role in contributing to school life and to the wider community. Through our curriculum, children are prepared for the next step in their life.