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SMSC

What is SMSC? 

SMSC stands for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural. Take a look at the many ways in which we develop SMSC in our children at Burlish Park Primary.

There are many opportunities for pupils to develop their Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural skills in learning both inside and outside the classroom. These combined engaging experiences help to build confident learners that are resilient and have belief that they will make progress. These are memorable learning experiences which apply learning in a real-life context.

As a school, we pride ourselves on our broad and balanced curriculum which allows the children to develop their SMSC skills. The school has also adopted a new PSHE curriculum which covers the three strands of Health and Well-being, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. This further develops SMSC throughout the school.

There are Educational Visits throughout the year to local shops, forests, other local schools, nature reserves, museums and places of worship, to name a few, all of which help to develop children as well-rounded citizens.

Spiritual

Explore beliefs and experience; respect faiths, feelings and values; enjoy learning about oneself, others and the surrounding world; use imagination and creativity; reflect.

At Burlish Park we:

  • Take part in the Three Kings Parade around Stourport.
  • Support local charities such as St Richard’s Hospice, Maggs Day Centre and local food banks.
  • We have links with a local church who come into school and talk to us in assemblies regularly throughout the year.
  • There are visits to local churches and Worcester Cathedral in different year groups.
  • Our choir go to the Elizabeth Mills Day Centre to sing Christmas Carols to the local community.
  • We participate in the National Christmas Jumper day to raise money for Save the Children.

In addition to the RE curriculum based on the Worcestershire agreed syllabus, we hold whole school RE days to enhance the curriculum.

Moral

Recognise right and wrong; respect the law; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues; offer reasoned views.

At Burlish Park:

  • We have a progressive PSHE curriculum which allows to us to develop our understanding of moral issues throughout our school, the local community and the wider world.
  • In addition to the curriculum, we support Anti-Bullying Week. From learning how to be a kind friend, how to treat others online and to knowing it is everyone’s responsibility to share their worries and concerns.
  • We participate in Green and Eco Events supported by our Eco-council. We understand and talk about all the ways in which we can make our school an eco-friendly place and help save the planet.
  • The PSHE curriculum is supported and enhanced by visitors to lessons such as our local PCSO.

Social

Use a range of social skills; participate in the local community; appreciate diverse viewpoints; participate, volunteer and cooperate; resolve conflict; engage with the ‘British values’ of democracy, the rule of law, liberty, respect and tolerance.

At Burlish Park:

  • We have a progressive PSHE curriculum which allows to us to develop our social skills as the pupils grow through the school.
  • We endeavour to participate within local community events and in the wider community and have strong links with various local businesses such as Tesco and Co-Op who often supply us with food for specific cooking projects.
  • Our families help us pack and wrap shoeboxes to send to countries where children may not have Christmas presents.
  • We raise money for charity days such as Children in Need and Sport/Comic Relief.

Cultural

Appreciate cultural influences; appreciate the role of Britain’s parliamentary system; participate in culture opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.

At Burlish Park:

  • The school has a PSHE curriculum which develops the knowledge and understanding of cultural issues in our school, community and the wider world.
  • The teaching and learning of cultural differences is enhanced throughout the year by pupils experiencing rich and varied Educational Visits to places outside of their local community. These include residential visits. 
  • Throughout the wider curriculum we strive to allow children to develop a wider cultural understanding. From cultural dancing from around the world in PE, discussing a large range of faiths and beliefs in RE, appreciating music from different countries in Music lessons to studying and comparing the differences between where we live to other parts of the world in Geography. This is just a small cross section of how we allow our children to understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity and cultural differences.
  • We take part in many different sporting activities and clubs. The pupils thoroughly enjoy playing and competing in the local Kho Kho (a game of Indian origin) tournament. We love winning but also know that taking part is important along with accepting the views and decisions of others respectfully in game situations.