Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (SMSC)

At Gilthill Primary School, our curriculum places spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development (SMCS) at the core of our educational ethos. SMSC lies at the heart of everything we do as we strive to inspire today's children to embrace tomorrow's challenges. Our goal is to nurture a community of confident, responsible, caring, respectful, and highly motivated children who value the importance of growing up to be strong, active, and tolerant members of society.

Our curriculum and wider enrichment provision are meticulously planned to support this vision, offering a wealth of experiences and opportunities for our children to learn and grow together. We believe in providing a diverse range of extracurricular activities and facilitating interactions with individuals of different ages, faiths, and cultures to enhance our students' understanding of the world around them. 

SMCS curriculum aligns seamlessly with our whole school vision, which is centers around Ready, Respectful and Safe values. By prioritising SMCS, we aim to instill in our children the values and skills necessary to become well-rounded individuals who can positively contribute to society.

The teaching of SMCS is fundamental to our school because it equips our pupils with essential life skills and values that go beyond academic knowledge. Our intent is to foster a nurturing environment where students can develop their self-awareness, empathy, moral compass, and cultural appreciation. Through SMCS, we aim to cultivate individuals who are not only academically proficient but also socially adept, emotionally intelligent, and culturally aware.

Spiritual Development

The spiritual development of pupils is exhibited through:

• Their ability to reflect on their own beliefs (religious or otherwise) that shape their outlook on life, as well as their curiosity in and respect for the beliefs, emotions, and values of others.
• Their enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others, and the world around them.
• Their use of imagination and creativity in their learning process.
• Their capacity to contemplate on their own experiences.

Moral Development

Pupils' moral development is demonstrated by:

• Their ability to distinguish between right and wrong, applying this understanding in their daily lives, recognizing legal boundaries and thus respecting the civil and criminal laws of England.
• Their comprehension of the repercussions of their behaviour and actions.
• Their investigation and articulate views on moral and ethical matters.
• Their ability to comprehend and respect the perspectives of others.

Social Development

Pupils' social development is exhibited by:

• Their adeptness in utilising a variety of social skills across different scenarios.
• Their willingness to engage in diverse communities and school environments, cooperating effectively with others, while being capable of resolving conflicts smoothly.
• Their embracement of the fundamental British values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance towards individuals with varying faiths and beliefs. They also cultivate and demonstrate the skills and attitudes needed to participate fully and positively contribute to life in modern Britain

Cultural Development

Pupils' cultural development can be seen in their:

• Understanding and appreciation of a wide array of cultural influences that have both shaped their heritage and that of others.
• Recognition and appreciation of diverse cultures within their community and beyond.
• Knowledge of Britain's democratic parliamentary system and its significance in shaping the nation's history and values.
• Eagerness to engage in and respond positively to artistic, musical, sporting, and cultural opportunities.
• Interest in exploring, enhancing understanding of, and showing respect for various faiths and cultural diversities, as evidenced by their tolerance and attitudes towards different religious, ethnic, and socio-economic groups.