SMSC stands for spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. SMSC is essential for children and young people’s individual development, preparing them to live full, active lives as part of their community and into adulthood, as well contributing to the development of society as a whole.

Spiritual development is about the development of a sense of identity, self-worth, personal insight, meaning and purpose. It is about the development of a pupil’s ‘spirit’. Some people may call it the development of a pupil’s ‘soul’, others as the development of ‘personality’ or ‘character’.

Moral development is about gaining an understanding of what is right and wrong, and the building, by pupils, of a framework of moral values which regulates their personal behaviour. It is also about the development of children’s understanding of society’s shared and agreed values, and knowing that these can change. Moral development includes children’s appreciation that different people hold different views on subjects and being able to articulate their own opinions.

Social development is about young people working effectively with each other and participating successfully in the community as a whole. It is about the development of the skills and personal qualities necessary for living and working together in a multi-racial, multicultural society. This includes developing an understanding of society’s institutions and children’s roles as citizens of the UK and the world.

Cultural development is about pupils gaining an understanding of their own and other cultures. It is about understanding and feeling comfortable in a variety of cultures and being able to operate in the emerging world culture of shared experiences provided by television, travel and the internet. It is about understanding that cultures are always changing and about coping with change. Promoting children’s cultural development is intimately linked with schools’ attempts to value cultural diversity and prevent racism.

In our curriculum we look for opportunities to develop children’s’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. The link below shows some of the ways in which we do this.

Download is in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) formatSMSC opportunities