Spiritual, Moral, Social & Cultural Development
Through our values of kindness, respect and resilience, we help pupils develop the knowledge, understanding and self-confidence needed to thrive in school, within their community and in modern Britain. We recognise that our pupils need opportunities to understand themselves, others and the world around them, and our curriculum has been designed to make this possible every day.
Spiritual
Exploring beliefs, values and finding meaning in experiences
Moral
Understanding right from wrong and making ethical decisions
Cultural
Appreciating diversity and understanding different traditions
Our Approach to SMSC
We embed Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural development into every aspect of school life, supported by:
- Values-Driven Culture – Our school community is built upon the values of kindness, respect and resilience, creating a safe, inclusive environment where every student is encouraged to thrive.
- Positive Role Models – Staff consistently model our school values through their attitudes, relationships and daily interactions, helping students understand and demonstrate these values in their own lives.
- A Curriculum for Personal Growth – Through every subject and learning experience, students are supported to develop independence, resilience, communication skills, self-awareness and positive relationships.
- Developing Responsibility and Self-Regulation – Our behaviour systems support students to understand the impact of their actions, develop emotional regulation, and make positive choices that contribute to a respectful school community.
- Meaningful Experiences Beyond the Classroom – Through enrichment activities, community days, real-world learning and collective experiences, students are encouraged to reflect, contribute positively to society and grow as active citizens.
SMSC Through Our Character Curriculum
Our character curriculum gives every student regular, explicit practice at the behaviours that SMSC describes. Students learn to:
- Try new things and prepare to succeed
- Overcome challenges and keep trying
- Understand how their actions affect others
- Demonstrate resilience
- Make a positive difference in their community
- Take pride in their achievements
Our SMSC Goals
Through our SMSC provision, we aim to develop these essential qualities in every student
Develop self-knowledge, self-esteem, and self-confidence in every student
Help students distinguish right from wrong and respect the laws of England
Encourage personal responsibility and positive contributions to society
Teach respect for democracy, public institutions, and the law
Appreciate and respect cultural diversity in modern Britain
Encourage respect for all individuals, regardless of their beliefs or backgrounds
British Values & Social Awareness
As part of our commitment to fundamental British values, students at Changing Lives develop each of the following.
🗳️ Understanding of Democracy
⚖️ Respect for the Rule of Law
🏛️ Legal Accountability
🕊️ Freedom of Belief
🌈 Acceptance of Diversity
🛡️ Awareness of Discrimination
Our full British Values statement sets out how we promote each of the five fundamental British values across our curriculum, tutor time and SMSC provision.
Our SMSC Calendar 2026–27
Every year we mark a programme of national, religious and cultural events across the school — in tutor time, in Changing Lives lessons and across the curriculum. Each one is anchored to one of our school values.
| Event | When | Theme or focus | School value | Curriculum Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Nations International Day of Peace | 21 September 2026 | “Invest in Peace — For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day” | Kindness | British ValuesRERRS |
| Yom Kippur | 21 September 2026 | Yom Kippur | Respect | British ValuesCitizenshipRE |
| European Day of Languages | 26 September 2026 | “Languages Open Hearts and Minds” | Kindness | Belonging |
| Black History Month | October 2026 | “Standing Firm in Power and Pride” · “Honouring Our Communities” (national theme) | RespectResilience | British ValuesRECitizenshipHistoryBelonging |
| World Mental Health Day | 10 October 2026 | “Mental Health in Humanitarian Emergencies” | KindnessResilience | RSEPSHEHealth and Wellbeing |
| Diwali | 8 November 2026 | Diwali | Respect | British ValuesCitizenshipRE |
| Remembrance Day and Armistice Day | 11 November 2026 (Remembrance Sunday: 8 November) | “Remember Yesterday, Act Today” | Respect | British ValuesREHistoryBelonging |
| Anti-Bullying Week | Week commencing 16 November 2026 | “Break the Silence” · Odd Socks Day 16 November · also UK Disability History Month and Children in Need (20 November) | KindnessRespectResilience | RSEPSHEBelonging |
| White Ribbon Day | 25 November 2026 | “It Takes All of Us” | RespectKindness | CitizenshipRSEBelonging |
| World AIDS Day | 1 December 2026 | Destigmatising HIV and AIDS · “Rethink. Rebuild. Rise” (national theme) | RespectKindnessResilience | RSECitizenship |
| United Nations Human Rights Day | 10 December 2026 | “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials” | Respect | CitizenshipBritish ValuesRE |
| Gratitude Week | Week commencing 14 December 2026 | Changing Lives Gratitude Week | Kindness | CitizenshipRSE |
| Event | When | Theme or focus | School value | Curriculum Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holocaust Memorial Day | 27 January 2027 | “No Place for Prejudice” | Respect | British ValuesREHistory |
| Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr | Ramadan from the evening of 7 February 2027; Eid al-Fitr from the evening of 10 March 2027 (both predicted) | Ramadan and Eid | Respect | British ValuesRE |
| National Apprenticeship Week | Week commencing 8 February 2027 | National Apprenticeship Week | Resilience | Careers Education |
| E-Safety Week and Safer Internet Day | Week commencing 8 February 2027 | “Exploring the Safe and Responsible Use of AI” | Resilience | RSEE-Safety |
| LGBT+ History Month | February 2027 | “Science and Innovation” | RespectKindness | British ValuesRSEHistory |
| National Careers Week | Week commencing 1 March 2027 | National Careers Week | Resilience | Careers Education |
| World Book Day | 4 March 2027 | World Book Day | Resilience | EnglishLiteracy |
| Women’s History Month | March 2027 (International Women’s Day: 8 March) | HerStory · “Accelerate Action” (national theme) | Respect | British ValuesCitizenshipHistory |
| Empathy Week | Week commencing 8 March 2027 | Theme to be confirmed | Kindness | BelongingLiteracy |
| Pi Day | 14 March 2027 | Pi Day | Resilience | Maths |
| Red Nose Day | March 2027 | “Supporting Those in Need” | Kindness | CitizenshipPSHEHealth and Wellbeing |
| Event | When | Theme or focus | School value | Curriculum Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pride Month | June 2027 | Celebrating Pride | RespectResilience | RSEBritish Values |
| National Thank a Teacher Day | 17 June 2027 | Expressing gratitude | Kindness | CitizenshipBelonging |
Dates for religious festivals are as predicted and may shift by a day. This calendar grows through the year as new opportunities come up.
Want to Learn More?
For more information about our SMSC provision and how we support student development, please get in touch.
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