Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development

A synopsis of a talk given by Pat Griffin

In my mind what we most remember from our time at school is not so much about what we learned but how we were treated. Was it a happy experience? Did we feel valued?

Education is an ongoing process with the aim of trying to help each individual to become the very best adult they can be. It is a wonderful privilege to be involved in this process and because we only get one 'crack' at Childhood and Education it is a very responsible position for us as teachers and you as parents. We all know the consequences of 'mucking up'!

We believe that emotional and social well-being and growth, self-esteem and confidence are of prime importance in themselves and are inextricably linked with academic progress.

All National Curriculum subjects provide opportunities to promote pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Explicit opportunities to promote pupils' development in these areas are provided in Art, Music, RE and PSHCE. A significant contribution is also made by school ethos, effective relationships throughout the school, collective worship and other curriculum activities.

Pupils' Spiritual Development involves the growth of self-esteem, self-confidence and self-knowledge.

Pupils will come to recognise their unique potential, they will understand their strengths and weaknesses and they will develop the will to achieve.

As their curiosity about themselves and their place in the world increases, they try to answer for themselves some of life's fundamental questions.

They develop the knowledge, skills, understanding, qualities and attitudes they need to foster their own inner lives and non-material wellbeing.

At St George's we welcome the diversity and breadth of spiritual understanding held by all members of our school. We encourage spiritual development in many and various ways.

We try to create an environment that is aesthetically pleasing with a variety of interesting and stimulating experiences, which encourage the children to question and wonder about the world. Music, Art, Drama and Poetry, as well as RE, are used to develop awareness of beliefs, moods, themes and emotions. We place great emphasis on listening, sharing and respect. This allows children to feel secure and confident enough to contribute and share experiences from their own life and may provide insights previously unexplored.

Pupils' moral development involves pupils acquiring an understanding of the difference between right and wrong and of moral conflict, a concern for others and the will to do what is right.

They are able and willing to reflect on the consequences of their actions and learn how to forgive themselves and others.

Pupils will respect the law.

They will develop the knowledge, skills, understanding, qualities and attitudes they need in order to make responsible moral decisions and act on them.

Pupils' social development involves pupils acquiring an understanding of the responsibilities and rights of being members of families and communities (local, national and global), and an ability to relate to others and to work for the common good. Pupils will be encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and understand how they can contribute to community life.

Pupils will be given a broad general knowledge of public institutions and services in England.

Pupils will display a sense of belonging and an increasing willingness to participate.

They develop the knowledge, skills, understanding, qualities and attitudes they need to make an active contribution to the democratic process in each of their communities.

Moral and social development are very closely related, especially in younger children. The school helps its children to arrive at an understanding of morality by fostering its own values of respect for self, others and the environment, which are shared with all pupils and parents.

Increasingly there will be opportunities to be involved in decision making, i.e. class rules and to become members of the School Council. Our rewards systems, from those used with our youngest children upwards, reinforce right and wrong behaviour.

Pupils' cultural development involves pupils acquiring an understanding of cultural traditions and the ability to appreciate and respond to a variety of aesthetic experiences.

They acquire a respect for their own culture and those of others, an interest in others' way of doing things and a curiosity about differences.

Pupils learn to appreciate cultural diversity in a way that promotes tolerance and harmony between cultural traditions.

We will encourage pupils' cultural development by deepening their understanding of their own cultural roots and by broadening their cultural horizons and aspirations. We will value and encourage pupils' own cultural interests and achievements and enrich and broaden their experience of all aspects of culture, whether aesthetic, musical, scientific, technological, political, economic or religious.

We welcome the diversity and breadth of cultural understanding held by all members of our community. Parents are a rich resource and help us enormously by coming in to talk about various festivals and cultural traditions.

 All of this adds up to the Personal Development of each child.