Cultural Capital
Our curriculum is “DIFFERENT RATHER THAN DIFFERENTIATED”; we adapt teaching so pupils engage with Spiritual, Moral, Social & Cultural (SMSC) education and British Values (BV), building their cultural capital and readiness to participate in society.
The holistic nature of our curriculum supports enrichment and learning activities at each pupil’s cognitive level. Our SMSC-BV framework is organised into:
- Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural
- British Values
Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural (SMSC)
SMSC sits at the heart of education and helps young people make appropriate choices in a complex, changing society. When done well, SMSC development can:
- Raise aspirations
- Develop empathy
- Deepen spirituality
- Connect young people with their communities
- Create opportunities to practise human virtues
- Instil values such as compassion, hope, faith and forgiveness
- Encourage values that look beyond the material world
To further promote SMSC, we run a programme of religious and cultural events celebrated locally, nationally, and globally. These provide experiences some pupils may not access outside school; see our Celebration Days.
British Values (BV)
The Department for Education (2014) published guidance on promoting BV in schools to ensure young people leave school prepared for life
in modern Britain. All have a duty to ‘actively promote’ the fundamental BV, which the government first set out in the ‘Prevent’ strategy in 2011.
Imperial Oak School is an inclusive setting, and our curriculum intent and implementation enable children to be independent learners, to make choices,
and to build strong relationships with their peers and adults.
Pupils achieve and develop when their personal, social, and emotional needs are met and when there are clear and developmentally appropriate expectations
for their behaviour. We expect all pupils, staff, parents, and other stakeholders to model and adhere to fundamental BV.
We promote BV through our spiritual, moral, social and cultural learning that permeates through the school’s curriculum and supports the holistic
development of the child so that they can progress.
We recognise that outstanding development and outcomes are most achievable when all staff promote fundamental BV and associated attitudes and provide a model
of behaviour for our pupils and their families.
The curriculum at Imperial Oak School offers varied, broad, and balanced opportunities for pupils to develop at their appropriate developmental, social,
emotional, communicative, and physical levels through a pathway-based approach that closely matches their entire environment to their needs and aspirations.
What are British Values?
- Democracy
- Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs
- Mutual Respect
- Individual Liberty
- Rule of Law