Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural

Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural

At The Hart School, we recognise that the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of students plays a significant part in their ability to learn and achieve. Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Education (SMSC) is delivered as golden thread through all curriculum areas and in every aspect of school life.

SMSC Education is broadly split into four areas:

Spiritual: exploring beliefs and experiences; respecting values; discovering oneself and the surrounding world; using imagination and creativity; reflection.

Moral: recognising right and wrong; understanding consequences; investigating moral and ethical issues; offering reasoned views.

Social: using social skills in different contexts; working well with others; resolving conflicts; understanding how communities work.

Cultural: appreciating cultural influences; participating in cultural opportunities; understanding, accepting, respecting and celebrating diversity.

The Hart School promotes SMSC development of our students through a variety of ways including:

• The provision of a broad, balanced and knowledge rich curriculum. Within this, teachers strive to promote opportunities whereby students are encouraged to engage with the wider world and consider and question their place within it.
• The delivery of a bespoke Life Skills programme and Life and Soul days which enables students to discuss issues that arise in situations beyond academic and vocational study.
• A varied assembly and weekly tutorial programme through which teachers and visitors discuss topics that help students reflect upon themes that are important in the wider world today as well as addressing local, national and global current affairs.
• An extensive enrichment programme that includes sporting, academic, musical and cultural opportunities.
• Links with the Wider Community.
• Links with a range of faith groups and local places of worship are fostered.
• The school supports the work of a variety of charities.
• Supported by an active and well-connected governing body, the school has strong links with a wide range of businesses, employers and further / higher education providers.
• A strong home-school agreement enables parents and teachers to work in an effective partnership to support pupils.
• Pupils are taught to appreciate and to take responsibility for their local environment.
• The school participates in a wide range of competitive activities including debating, maths challenges and team and individual sports.

In addition to the above, all Faculty Directors have audited their curriculum at Key Stage 3 and have identified additional opportunities to develop students’ experiences outside of the classroom through topic specific trips, educational visits, guest speakers, business and workplace experiences and other relevant activities such as theatre trips, cinema experiences, opera visits and concerts.  Each curriculum area aims to provide at least one of the above experiences, directly related to a topic being studied, for each year group, each academic year.