Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (SMSC)

Students are given the opportunity to develop SMSC through the curriculum, form time sessions, assemblies and collective worship. The provision is mapped across all subject areas.

Spiritual Development

Exploring beliefs and experiences; respecting all faiths and values; discovering and learning about the world and your place within it; using imagination and creativity; reflecting on your actions.

At Trinity Academy Cathedral, students have the opportunity to explore their own personal values and beliefs and listen to others. An important aspect of spirituality is developing a sense of awe and wonder in our students which furthers their creativity and imagination. Students have a number of opportunities to develop their spirituality:

  • ‘Big questions’ mapped across curriculum areas and explored with students including ‘Should we put the environment before the economy?’; ‘Is loneliness a form of suffering?’; ‘Does creativity take courage?’.
  • Talk 4 Life based around the four core values, ensuring public speaking opportunities for all.
  • Involvement in the school chaplaincy during form time and social times.
  • Ethos ambassadors and Form Worship representatives.
  • Academy prayer.
  • Services: Remembrance, Christmas, Easter.

Please refer to our Spirituality Policy for more information about how the academy provides students with opportunities to develop their spirituality across the curriculum.

Recognising right and wrong; understanding choices and consequences; respecting the law and understanding the consequences of breaking the law; investigating moral and ethical issues; offering a reasoned viewpoint.

At Trinity Academy Cathedral, students are guided to make the correct choices and display positive behaviours towards others which will enable them to live a safe and happy life. Our four core values, Honesty, Empathy, Respect, Responsibility, are integral in guiding students to be good people. We develop students’ morality in a number of ways:

  • Our Christian vision, mission and prayer.
  • News zoom within form time exploring current affairs.
  • Collective Worship with themes linking to world celebration days, e.g Habitat, Religion, Earth.
  • Academy BfL system.

Using a range of social skills appropriately in different contexts; appreciating diverse viewpoints; showing tolerance of the views of others; resolving conflict; engaging with British values (democracy, the rule of law, liberty, respect and tolerance).

At Trinity Academy Cathedral, students are taught how to work together effectively with different ages, genders, races and religions. Students have the opportunity to develop their school community and contribute in their local community which ensures that when they leave school they can engage with society’s institutions and form successful relationships with others. We support students’ social development in a number of ways:

  • A 53 strong student ambassadors programme
  • Prevent and mental health workshops
  • Archbishops’ Award and Duke of Edinburgh Award
  • PSE programme
  • Prison! Me! No Way!

Appreciating cultural influences; understanding the role of Britain’s parliamentary system; participating in cultural opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.

At Trinity Academy Cathedral, students are part of a community with many different races and languages spoken which enables them to develop tolerance, understanding and appreciation of other cultures. Students have opportunities to enhance their cultural capital through art, theatre and travel opportunities. Students’ cultural development is promoted in a number of ways:

  • Trips and journeys to a wide range of places including, London, Oxford, York, France and New York.
  • Partnerships with local institutions including including The Hepworth, The National Coal Mining Museum and Leeds College of Art.
  • ‘General Election’ week where students have the opportunity to vote for a political party
  • Bar mock trials.

Then various opportunities provided to enable students to:

  • Develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence.
  • Distinguish right from wrong and to respect the law of England.
  • Accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and understand how they can contribute positively to their academy and community.
  • Develop tolerance of others and their faith/beliefs.
  • Encourage respect for others.

In addition, SMSC activities promote fundamental British values.

As a result of this work we expect our students to have:

  • An understanding of how they as citizens, in our academy and in their local community, can bring about influence through a democratic process.
  • An understanding regarding the rule of law and how it aims to protect individuals and the need for it to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all.
  • An understanding of the freedom of choice, particularly related to choice regarding faith and beliefs, and how these choices are protected in law.
  • An acceptance of others who hold differing beliefs, faiths and opinions and that tolerance is required, and how discriminatory or prejudicial behaviour is against the values and ethos of this academy but also is against the law.
  • An understanding of the importance of identifying discriminatory behaviours and actions and also understanding that action needs to be taken to combat such behaviours.

NB: Parts of the above are taken from ‘Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools’ – DfE, November 2014

At Trinity Academy Cathedral, we promote fundamental British values in a number of ways:

  • Our school curriculum and form time activities ensure that knowledge around democracy, law and different governments is gained.
  • We hold regular student voice across all year groups on a variety of important matters including curriculum, extracurricular, healthy eating and wellbeing. Student ambassadors work alongside staff to ensure different points of view are listened to.
  • We hold mock elections and votes on schoolwide issues. Debate is encouraged in all curriculum areas through our ‘Big Questions’ initiative and our Debating society.
  • Our RS and PSHE provision ensures an understanding of different faiths and respect for this. Our Collective Worship and assembly calendar also ensure that different religious festivals are taught at different points in the year.
  • Our INVOLVE programme includes a plethora of extracurricular activities with student led clubs such as Eco club.

As a result of this work, we expect our students to have:

  • An understanding of how they as citizens, in our academy and in their local community, can bring about influence through a democratic process.
  • An understanding regarding the rule of law and how it aims to protect individuals and the need for it to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all.
  • An understanding of the freedom of choice, particularly related to choice regarding faith and beliefs, and how these choices are protected in law.
  • An acceptance of others who hold differing beliefs, faiths and opinions and that tolerance is required, and how discriminatory or prejudicial behaviour is against the values and ethos of this academy but also is against the law.
  • An understanding of the importance of identifying discriminatory behaviours and actions and also understanding that action needs to be taken to combat such behaviours.

NB: Parts of the above are taken from ‘Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools’ – DfE, November 2014

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