Our curriculum extends far beyond the academic, to allow pupils to develop in many diverse aspects of life. This is shown in our Personal Development Curriculum.
We aim to ensure that, over their time at Buckingham Primary Academy, learners receive a Personal Development programme that gives them the knowledge that they need to make decisions, to strengthen them personally and to allow them to develop their character and personality. We provide these rich experiences in a coherently planned way, in the curriculum and through extra-curricular activities.
At Buckingham Primary, there are four key drivers that underpin our Personal Development approach:
-
Healthy & safe behaviours
-
Awareness of the world
-
Character development
-
British Values
Healthy & safe behaviours include our PSHE curriculum, Relationship Education, Sex Education, Physical Health, Mental Wellbeing and Wider Aspects of Safety.
Awareness of the world includes Economic Understanding, Understanding Media and Technology and Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development.
Character development includes development of children’s own character and personality, our RESPECT values framework, children’s behaviour and wider opportunities for children to engage with.
British Values includes Democracy, Rule of Law, Respect & Tolerance and Individual Liberty.
Personal Development
SMSC
What is SMSC?
All schools in England are required to promote the spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development of their pupils. Through our provision of SMSC, we aim to
- enable students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence;
- enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England;
- encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative, and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to society more widely;
- enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England;
- further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures;
- encourage respect for other people; and
- encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic processes, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England.
How do we develop SMSC?
Spiritual Development: We teach children about themselves, others and the world around them in order to inspire and develop a sense of awe and wonder. We explore values and beliefs in which to inform their perspective on life and respect for other people. Creativity is a key part of our curriculum and we encourage a willingness to reflect on their own experiences.
Moral Development: We provide opportunities for children to investigate moral and ethical issues in order to develop their ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong, with a readiness to apply this understanding in their own lives. We develop their understanding of consequences of their actions.
Social Development: We learn to cooperate well with others and resolve conflicts effectively. We develop social skills through working and socialising with and alongside others from a variety of different backgrounds. We teach children about the way their own community as well as wider society and other communities function.
Cultural Development: We celebrate diversity within our school and share knowledge and experience within the community. We explore and develop an understanding and respect for cultural diversity. We provide opportunities to explore a variety of art, music, sport, science and festivals. We also develop an appreciation of cultural influences that have shaped the children’s own heritage.
SMSC
British Values
All schools in England are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught to pupils. The Government set out its definition of British values in the ‘Prevent Strategy.’ These values are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. At Buckingham Primary Academy, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:
Democracy: Children have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our active Learning council and through pupil questionnaires. Every fortnight, children hold a democratic vote in their classes to choose the pupils star of the week for celebration assembly.
The Rule Of Law: Throughout the school day, the importance of laws, are consistently reinforced. Our children are taught the value and reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibility that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.
Individual Liberty: When in school, our pupils are encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. We encourage our children to know, understand and exercise their rights as children and how this evolves as they enter adulthood.
Mutual Respect: Our school Behaviour Policy revolves around core values such as ‘respect, resilience and collaboration’ . Children are actively involved in discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it relates to oneself, others and property.
Tolerance of those of Different Faiths & Beliefs: This is achieved through enhancing our children’s understanding of their place in a culturally diverse country and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity, through assemblies, visitors, our diverse book spine, multicultural weeks and visits to places of worship. We also have a dedicated week of Religious Education, each term where pupils of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.
In addition to being woven across the curriculum, British Values are explicitly taught through our PSHE scheme of work, Jigsaw.
British Values
Equality
We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive school. For us, equality means that everyone is able to participate and feel welcome and safe in the activities of our school. This includes pupils, parents & carers, staff and visitors. Everyone should be able to achieve the best possible outcomes because of their participation. We believe that equality should permeate all aspects of school life and is the responsibility of all members of the school and community
Diversity
At our school, diversity means acknowledging that there are differences between people that should be recognised, respected and celebrated. We promote respect of each other’s differences and identities. We celebrate and raise awareness of diversity in the school and in the wider community and believe that teaching children about diversity prepares them for life in modern Britain.
The Equality Act 2010
We want our children to learn that we all belong together regardless of different races, religions, sexualities, genders, abilities and ages. We encourage children to be proud of their differences and to understand the importance of not discriminating against, or being unfair to others, because of their difference
The Equality Act 2010 - The Protected Characteristics
The 9 Protected Characteristics are actively promoted in school through:
- Our school mission statement
- Our school core values
- Our school behaviour policy and curriculum
- Conscious role modelling by all adults in the school community
- Active engagement and communication with parents and carers
- Assemblies linked to British Values & the protected characteristics
- Discussion within curriculum subjects, taking a cross-curricular approach to the Equality Act
- Promoting articulation by building appropriate language and a coherent vocabulary
- Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) sessions
- Religious Education (RE) lessons, RSE lessons and Protected Characteristic talks
- Sporting, Art and Cultural Events
- Pupil Voice, including the Learning Council, Eco council and Digital Leaders
- Educational visits
- Real-life learning outside the classroom
- Guest speakers
- Developing links with local, national and international communities
- Extra-curricular activities, after-school clubs, charity work and work within the local community
