SMSC
At Brookdale Primary School, our children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development plays a significant role in their ability to achieve, learn and contribute to the wider community. Our curriculum is planned to ensure that our children flourish as reflective, thoughtful and responsible individuals who are curious about the world around them.
Our 6 core values of Respect, determination, teamwork, friendship, responsibility and compassion enable our children to develop into positive members of society who will be able to make significant contributions to making our world (both near and far) a kinder place.
Spiritual Development
As a school, we aim to provide learning opportunities that enable pupils to:
- Build resilience, confidence and self-esteem in their learning experience
- Develop their capacity for critical and independent thought
- Be compassionate towards other people, our wolrd and themselves
- Express their thoughts and feelings whilst being aware of the thoughts and feelings of others
- Experience moments of stillness and reflection
- Discuss their beliefs, feelings, values and responses to personal experiences
- Make and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationships
- Reflect on, consider and celebrate the wonders and mysteries of life
- Recognise and reflect on major religions
Moral Development
As a school, we aim to provide learning opportunities that will enable pupils to:
- Develop an understanding of their individual identity
- Begin to understand their place within different groups in society
- Learn about service in our school and the wider community
- Begin to understand the need for social justice
- Develop compassion for others, especially those who are disadvantaged
The key vocabulary built through our curriculum helps our children make connections between the past, present and future and the impact values, beliefs and ideals have on society.
The key vocabulary is: Democracy, Exploration, Belief, Justice, Innovation, Civilisation, Freedom, Sustainability, Community, Diversity, Adaptation, Family, Rule of Law, Tolerance, Individual Liberty.
Cultural Development
As a school, we aim to promote opportunities that will enable pupils to:
- Develop an understanding of the social and cultural environment we are part of today
- Recognise the value and richness of cultural diversity in Britain and how this influences individuals and society
- Recognise that we can learn from the past to make positive changes for today and the future
Some examples of the practical activities used to develop SMSC at Brookdale:
- A reward system based around our core values
- A commitment to Growth Mindset philosophy, including specific lessons taught within each year group
- A dedicated section of our website to Well-being
- The use of Big Questions every term, which demand deep thinking around philosophical ideas
- The development of strong home-school partnerships, e.g. through celebration assemblies, curriculum workshops, home-learning and homework and working closely with our PTA Friends of Brookdale
- Appreciation of the local environment and developing a sense of responsibility for it
- Supporting Local, National and International charities, e.g. Children in Need and Save the Children
- Weekly Collective Worship
- Collective worship led by the “A Team” (Assembly team from local churches)
- A well-planned and effective PSHE curriculum
- Lunchtime organisation, e.g. social eating and play leaders
- Opportunities to take responsibility, e.g. school council, Year 6 ambassadors,
- Participate in school visits
- Modern Foreign Language lessons
- Sessions delivered by Greasby Methodist Church for all classes.