Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development
At Sandfield, we believe education is about developing the whole child. Alongside academic learning, we want our children to grow into confident, kind, respectful and responsible individuals who understand themselves, value others and feel part of their school and wider community.
Our school is a diverse and inclusive community, with around 50% of our pupils speaking English as an additional language (EAL). We value the different languages, cultures, beliefs and experiences our families bring and see this diversity as a strength.
SMSC is not taught as a separate subject. It is woven through everyday life at Sandfield through our curriculum, assemblies, relationships, behaviour, pupil leadership and community experiences.
Our Aim
Ultimately, we want every child at Sandfield to feel valued, included and listened to. We want our children to leave us as confident and compassionate young people who respect others, appreciate diversity, make responsible choices and understand that they can make a positive contribution to their school, their local community and the wider world.
At Sandfield, SMSC is not simply something children learn about – it is something they experience and demonstrate every day.
Spiritual Development
Children are encouraged to reflect, ask questions and develop curiosity about themselves, others and the world around them. This is supported through:
- RE, where children learn about different faiths, beliefs and worldviews;
- assemblies, stories, discussion and reflection;
- art, music, literature and creativity;
- learning about different religious and cultural celebrations;
- visitors and links with our local faith and wider community.
Our RE curriculum encourages children to explore what people believe and why, while developing respect for different perspectives.
Moral Development
We want children to understand right and wrong, take responsibility for their actions and make positive choices.
This is developed through our behaviour and relationships expectations, RE and PSHE. Our PSHE curriculum is taught through 1Decision, where children explore realistic situations, make choices and consider the consequences of their decisions.
Assemblies, stories and discussions also provide opportunities to explore themes such as kindness, fairness, courage, honesty and responsibility.
Social Development
Children have many opportunities to develop positive relationships, teamwork, communication and leadership skills.
Our Junior Leadership Team and pupil ambassadors give children a genuine voice in school life and opportunities to take responsibility, share ideas and act as positive role models.
We also develop social skills through collaborative learning, pupil voice, school activities and our links with local businesses, churches and community organisations. These experiences help children understand the contribution people make to their community and how they can make a positive difference themselves.
Our secondary school transition days and activities also help children develop confidence, independence and resilience as they prepare for their next stage of education.
Cultural Development
We want every child to feel that their identity and culture are valued. Children learn to appreciate and celebrate the diversity within our school and wider community through:
- RE and PSHE
- books, art, music and history
- different languages, cultures, traditions and festivals
- assemblies, visitors and community links
- opportunities to learn about life in modern Britain
We encourage children to be proud of who they are while developing understanding and respect for people whose backgrounds, beliefs and experiences may be different from their own.
British Values
British Values are naturally embedded throughout school life:
- Democracy – through pupil voice, our Junior Leadership Team and ambassadors;
- The Rule of Law – through behaviour expectations, PSHE, assemblies and discussions about responsibility and consequences
- Individual Liberty – through encouraging children to make informed choices and develop independence
- Mutual Respect – through our relationships, teamwork and celebration of diversity
- Respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs – through RE, PSHE, assemblies and our diverse community.
