SMSC

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Teaching
at Sacred Heart Primary School

Definitions:

• Spiritual: Signifies what we/I believe about the meaning and purpose of life. Engaging in the big questions of purpose and meaning. It is everything about existence on this planet that is beyond material. 

• Moral: because of what we believe about the purpose and meaning of life we live by principles and codes which guide our choices between right and wrong.

• Social: Our way of relating to self and others which is influenced by our spirituality and our morality.

• Cultural: The ways in which we do things- the rites, rituals, customs and practices which develop over time within communities. Culture gives expression to a community’s spirituality, morality and social values.

Children participate in Religious Education where they explore their own religious and spiritual identities, as well as those of their classmates. We invite our parish priest, Father FitzGerald to our school to support children’s learning and children participate in visits to places of worship. He joins us every Monday and we join the Sacred Heart Parish for events and mass.

We celebrate significant experiences such as birthdays and festivals and ensure that children have the opportunity to feel special and valued. 

We create opportunities where children can develop awareness of the world and its capacity to inspire awe and wonder. We use the ‘Come and See curriculum, Ten:Ten and Journey in Love which comprises of imaginative learning projects that are creative, flexible, thematic, inspiring and engaging. We encourage children to use imagination and creativity in their learning.

We plan times for children to take part in opportunities to be quiet and reflective. We give them space for their own thoughts, ideas and concerns.

We encourage children to respond appropriately to the needs and feelings of others and to show consideration and kindness to others. We teach our children to empathise and put others in need first. We create opportunities for children to learn from people who are excellent models of positive behaviour.

We teach children to communicate in ways that will enable them to form positive relationships and enjoy participating in school and community life.

We give children opportunities across the curriculum to explore and develop moral concepts and values – for example, personal rights and responsibilities, truth, justice, equality of opportunity, right and wrong.

We provide a range of activities and experiences that develop children’s social skills and understanding, like how to care for people, living things, property and the environment. We teach children to work cooperatively as a member of a group or team, taking turns and sharing within a range of social contexts.

We create opportunities for children to develop positive relationships with peers and adults, including those who have different needs. We role model and teach children to help and support others and to experience being helped by others.

We celebrate each other’s cultural identities and teach children to value their own cultural heritage and develop a positive, personal identity, and to show respect for other people’s values and beliefs.

We encourage children to participate in, and respond positively to a range of artistic, musical, sporting, mathematical, technological, scientific and cultural opportunities both in our local and global community.

We provide opportunities for children to experience and respond positively to the languages, food, music, artefacts and cultural practices of different and diverse communities.

We encourage children to show an interest in exploring cultural diversity and show positive responses towards different religions, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.

Justice
Forgiveness
Mercy

In Sacred Heart we situate British Values within the context of Gospel Values:

Dignity of the human person

Respecting, valuing and recognising all people as being made in the image and likeness of God.

Therefore: Democracy is explored, lived and experienced through teaching and learning, pupil voice, pupil leadership and extracurricular activities.  

The Rule of Law

Fundamental to our children’s understanding of the importance of the Rule of Law, is the greatest command,

 ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind and ‘your neighbour as yourself.’” Luke 10:25-27

The Christian concept of Law is explored through RE, Gospel Values, Collective Worship and whole school activities, 

Liberty

Liberty is explored within the context of Christ’s teaching on morality, freedom, to make the right choices and recognise that with freedom comes responsibility,

“Do to others as you would have them do to you” – Luke 6:31.

Acceptance and respect of different beliefs and values is explored through the understanding of diversity, inclusion and respect for the unique value of each person. Sacred Heart seeks to educate all pupils to be creative and questioning thinkers who are seeking truth in a very complex world. We foster open minds and hearts to learn and grow together. Our community is made of a wide variety of families from different faith traditions which reflect the local community and the global church. We place kindness and love for all at the forefront of our values.