SMSC

At St Ignatius, we are committed to making sure that all our pupils develop well spiritually, morally, socially and culturally (SMSC) in order to achieve their full potential.

Our PEARL values of Prayer, Equality, Achievement, Respect and Love guide life at St Ignatius.

What is SMSC?

SMSC stands for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development.

All schools in England must show how well their pupils develop in SMSC.

How did SMSC originate?

SMSC development results from the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child - Articles 1-42 state the rights of every child and Articles 43-54 state how adults and governments should work together to ensure all children get their rights. The UK ratified Convention on the Rights of the Child on 16th December 1991 show where all adults have the responsibility to secure the rights of the child.

Defining Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development

At St Ignatius children have opportunities to develop spiritually by:

exploring and developing personal values and beliefs
exploring the values and beliefs of others
reflecting on their work and performance
learning about respect
developing empathy by understanding feelings and emotions
appreciating things like beauty, truth and goodness
using imagination and creativity in learning

At St Ignatius children have opportunities to develop morally by:

recognising the difference between right and wrong
applying this understanding in their own lives and in doing so, respecting the civil and criminal law of England
considering the range of accepted values in society
developing skills such as decision making and consideration of others
engaging with moral philosophy and skills of analysis
understanding the consequences of their actions
exploring moral and ethical issues

At St Ignatius children have opportunities to develop socially by:

working in teams or groups co-operatively
taking part in group and school experiences such as assemblies, residential experiences and school productions
taking on roles of responsibility
understanding how groups, communities and societies function at a variety of levels
developing social skills
showing respect

At St Ignatius children have opportunities to develop culturally by:

exploring and understanding their own culture
exploring and understanding different cultures to prepare them for life in modern Britain
developing a knowledge of Britain's democratic parliamentary system (past, present and future)
participating in artistic, musical and sporting activities