Telephone: 01234 745200 Email: rivertree@biltt.org
Rivertree Free School is part of Bedford Inclusive Learning and Training Trust
Company Number: 08156641
SMSC Development
At Rivertree Free School, we consistently promote British Values and pupils’ social, moral, spiritual, and cultural (SMSC) development throughout everyday school life.
This fosters pupils’ acceptance and engagement with democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs. Pupils develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will enable them to participate fully and contribute positively to life in modern Britain.
We aim to help develop responsibility and reflection, encouraging pupils to question and challenge stereotypes and become thoughtful learners.
The spiritual, moral, social, and cultural education of pupils at Rivertree is woven throughout the curriculum and not confined to specific SMSC lessons.
We utilise our broad and balanced curriculum to explore SMSC themes.
Spiritual Development
Pupils’ spiritual development is demonstrated by their:
Ability to reflect on their own beliefs, religious or otherwise, that shape their outlook on life.
Interest in, and respect for, different people’s faiths, feelings, and values.
Sense of enjoyment and wonder in learning about themselves, others, and the world around them.
Use of imagination and creativity in their learning.
Willingness to reflect on their experiences.
Moral Development
Pupils’ moral development is demonstrated by their:
- Ability to distinguish between right and wrong, readily applying this understanding in their own lives and, in doing so, respecting the civil and criminal law of England.
- Understanding of the consequences of their behaviour and actions.
- Interest in investigating and offering reasoned views about moral and ethical issues, and being able to understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others on these issues.
Social Development
Pupils’ social development is demonstrated by their:
- Use of a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religious, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Willingness to participate in a variety of community and social settings, including through volunteering, cooperating well with others, and being able to resolve conflicts effectively.
- Ability to use modern communication technology, including mobile phones, the internet, and social media, safely.
- Acceptance and engagement with the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Pupils should also develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in, and contribute positively to, life in modern Britain.
Cultural Development
The cultural development of pupils is shown by their:
- Understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and that of others.
- Understanding and appreciation of the diverse cultures within the school and beyond, as a vital part of their preparation for life in modern Britain.
- Knowledge of Britain’s democratic parliamentary system and its central role in shaping our history and values, and in the ongoing development of Britain.
- Willingness to participate in and respond positively to artistic, sporting, and cultural opportunities.
- Interest in exploring, improving their understanding of, and showing respect for different faiths and cultural diversity.
- Understanding, acceptance, respect, and celebration of diversity,
As demonstrated by their tolerance and attitudes towards different religious, ethnic, and socio-economic groups in the local, national, and global communities.
Whole School, Cross-Curricular Approach
At Rivertree Free School, the development of SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual, and Cultural) understanding takes place both within and outside of lessons, and is embedded across all areas of the curriculum.
SMSC has particularly strong links to form time, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), and Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education. All areas of the curriculum will draw examples from as wide a range of cultural contexts as possible.
To foster a strong sense of identity in our pupils, we use classroom discussions, assemblies, and specific interventions to enable them to:
- Talk about their experiences and feelings.
- Express and clarify their own ideas and beliefs.
- Speak about difficult events, such as bullying or death.
- Share their thoughts and feelings with others.
- Explore relationships with friends, family, and others.
- Consider the needs and behaviour of others.
- Show empathy.
- Develop self-esteem and respect for others.
- Develop a sense of belonging.
- Develop the skills and attitudes that enable children to develop socially, morally, spiritually, and culturally, e.g., empathy, respect, open-mindedness, sensitivity, and critical awareness.