Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development

SMSC development is promoted through a programme of Personal, Social, Health, Emotional and Economic education, which is delivered explicitly through Morals, Ethics and Citizenship. Every department/faculty also provides a range of clearly identified opportunities for all students to develop spiritually, morally, socially and culturally. In addition to this a well structured tutorial programme, Action Days, involvement in charity events, extra curricular activities and assemblies also contribute significantly to students’ SMSC development. We believe that SMSC education is inextricably linked to the Core British Values, which are also promoted through the formal curriculum and pastorally.

Promoting Core British Values…

The DfE have recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated by the Prime Minister in 2014.

At Wilmington Academy, we actively promote positive, inclusive values through our ethos and everyday academy life. This includes a broad and balanced curriculum, social, moral, cultural and spiritual development, and this approach is further supported through our Tutorial Programme, Action Days and student-led assemblies. These include democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect for, and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. We believe British values are those values expected of anyone living in Britain, regardless of their nationality, culture or religious beliefs.

Our ethos reflects these values. We place great emphasis on building positive relationships in school, amongst the students themselves and between staff and students. We strongly believe students should not merely be taught such values but that they are embedded into our academy community.