SMSC and British Values Curriculum

British Values

How has ‘Britishness’ been taught and reinforced at Hartley Primary Academy?

Democracy:

  • Democracy is core to our school. Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our School Council and Pupil questionnaires.

  • Elections for School Council representatives are undertaken in each class.

  • Senior and middle leaders consult with pupils to ensure that we learn directly how pupils view our school.

  • Children are always able to voice their opinions and we foster an environment where children are safe to disagree with each other.

  • Our House Captains and Head Boy/Girl team are elected through a vote of their peers every year.

The Rule of Law:

  • The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced in our expectations throughout every school day, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies.

  • Children are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves, and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police, PCSO, and Fire Service etc. are often parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty:

  • Within school, children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. Our PSHE policy underpins and supports this decision making and enables children to make the right choices. It also gives them the vocabulary to enter into a dialogue with others in their decision making.

  • As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safely, through the provision of a safe environment and empowering education.

  • Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our Online Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

  • Through the PYP, the key message is that our children have Voice, Choice and Ownership of their learning.

Mutual Respect:

  • At Hartley Primary Academy we pride ourselves on our positive relationships. We treat each other with mutual respect and work in a climate where openness, trust and inclusion lay the foundations for their future life.

  • Our Values underpin aspects of school life and give staff and children the opportunity to discuss and reflect on the values in life that they believe in. It is our values that determine our thinking, learning and behaviour and the way in which we interpret the world around us.

  • We aim to help children learn the art of reflection and questioning to enable them to make sense of the world around them. We teach them to be understanding and solution focused rather than judging others and getting cross. By the time children leave Hartley Primary Academy, they understand that values are important if people in our society are going to live happily together, in peace and harmony.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

  • This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. The school sometimes holds events in the local parish Church, but children will have opportunity to attend school trips to other centres of worship, such as, for example Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Gravesend.


SMSC

SMSC stands for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. All schools in England must show how well their children are developing in SMSC.

  • Spiritual: Explore beliefs and experience; respect faiths, feelings and values; enjoy learning about oneself, others and the surrounding world; use imagination and creativity; reflect. This is, in the main, taught through our RE curriculum.

  • Moral: Recognise right and wrong; respect the law; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues; offer reasoned views and have an appreciation of British Values. Morals are discussed often in assemblies, as well as in PSHE lessons.

  • Social: Investigate moral issues; appreciate diverse viewpoints; participate, volunteer and cooperate; resolve conflict; engage with fundamental values of British democracy. Our curriculum is designed with this in mind. For example, Year 2 and 6 learn about the rights of different types of people around the world at different times in history.

  • Cultural: Appreciate cultural influences; appreciate the role of Britain’s Parliamentary System; participate in cultural opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Curriculum

“Celebrating diversity and unlocking the potential”