SMSC Development Through RE

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

While RE is often a

subject that is a key

driver in providing

opportunities for SMSC

development, it is of

course a whole school

and cross curricular

responsibility that will lie

at the heart of

successful practice in a

school.

SMSC Development Through RE

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

Teachers plan their lessons well and make good use of visual aids to make lessons interactive and

enjoyable. They set good examples within this caring environment and use curriculum content well to

extend learning of their own faith and also to teach about other faiths and cultures. This ensures that

teaching makes a significant contribution to pupils’ good spiritual, moral, social and cultural

development. Ofsted 2012

Leaders plan well for opportunities for pupils’ spiritual

moral social and cultural development through a wide range of culturally enriching experiences including a very

recent trip to France, as well as national and international links.

Underpinning all of this is its programme of family values.

Ofsted report 2012 Used with kind permission Norwich

Diocese 2012

Progress is facilitated by ‘feeling circles’ which start each day and encourage pupils to readily share feelings and concerns. Pupils settle quickly to

independent work. They are clear about their academic targets. Ofsted 2012

The curriculum is broad and balanced and carefully planned around a topic-based

approach. The school has good links with the local community and church. Moral issues are examined in class discussion and assemblies

and help to encourage social skills. The school celebrates the many cultures represented there. It is exploring ways in which its local setting and history can also reinforce and

enhance delivery of spiritual, moral, social and cultural understanding. Ofsted 2012

Used with kind permission Norwich

Diocese 2012

Your school definition

Suitable for your children

Showing your school’s distinctiveness and values

Owned by your school community

Pupils’ social development is shown by their:

-use of a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds

-willingness to participate in a variety of social settings, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively

-interest in, and understanding of, the way communities and societies function at a variety of levels. OFSTED 2012

Pupils’ moral development is shown by their:

-ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and their readiness to apply this understanding in their own lives

-understanding of the consequences of their actions

-interest in investigating, and offering reasoned views about, moral and ethical issues.

OFSTED 2012

Pupils’ cultural development is shown by their:

-understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage

-willingness to participate in, and respond to, for example, artistic, musical, sporting, mathematical, technological, scientific and cultural opportunities

-interest in exploring, understanding of, and respect for cultural diversity and the extent to which they understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity, as shown by their attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities.

OFSTED 2012

Pupils’ spiritual development is shown by their:

-beliefs, religious or otherwise, which inform their perspective on life and their interest in and respect for different people’s feelings and values

-sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them, including the intangible

-use of imagination and creativity in their learning

-willingness to reflect on their experiences.

OFSTED 2012

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

A simple approach to planning for spiritual development might be to use the ‘Windows, Mirrors, Doors’ approach:

Windows: opportunities to look out on the world and

gaze in wonder; the things we find amazing and that

bring us up short.

Mirrors: Opportunities tor reflect, to look inward to

consider some of the big questions of life:

to explore their own insights and those of others.

Doors: opportunities to do something creative that

expresses their own thoughts and convictions.

How to fit SMSC into what you already do: spiritual development

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

Spiritual development (and cultural development) in RE using Art

Using rainbow

flags to

respond to art

Richard Patrick

Campbell

Methodist Church

Collection of Modern

Christian Art

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

Moral and social development in RE using Mystery

What is it all about?

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

Moral and social development in RE using Mystery

It’s a mystery

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

Can one person make a difference?

Are actions stronger than words?

What would YOU be prepared to take action about?

Moral and social development in RE using Mystery

Learning from

Resources can be found at and the topic is adapted from Exploring

Beliefs in Action in the World RE Today Services

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

“Stories move in circles. They don’t move in straight lines. So it helps if you listen in

circles. There are stories inside stories and stories between stories, and finding your

way through them is as easy and as hard as finding your way home. And part of the

finding is getting lost. And when you’re lost, you start to look around and listen.”

- Corey Fischer, Albert Greenberg, and Naomi Newman

A Travelling Jewish Theatre from Coming from a Great Distance

Excerpted from Writing for Your Life by Deena Metzger

The best stories centre on an event

SMSC development through story

stories

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

SMSC development through story

Digital stories are ‘mini-movies’ created and edited using

Cameras, computers scanners and photo albums.

Digital stories are personal stories and can be informative,

questioning, historical, autobiographical or anywhere

in between.

Using digital storytelling

Olivia Seymour

Education Adviser

Asking the right questions?

If individuals would like a copy of Bob’s

story to use then please contact Olivia

Seymour

oseymour@yorkdiocese.org