Our Vision and Values

At High Hazels Academy, the children and their learning are at the very heart of every decision we make. We believe that Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural development is central to empowering our children to become thoughtful, compassionate, and confident individuals. Our vision is to provide an inclusive and supportive environment that values each child’s unique identity and fosters a sense of belonging, purpose, and respect for others.  Through a curriculum that embraces SMSC, we aim to:

 

Inspire a Love of Learning and Curiosity

We encourage children to explore their beliefs, passions, and aspirations. We provide opportunities for reflection, creativity, and discovery, helping children find meaning in their learning and nurturing a lifelong curiosity about the world around them.

 

Build a Strong Moral Compass

 We teach children to understand right and wrong, to consider the impact of their choices, and to treat others with respect. Through ethical discussions, role-modelling, and positive reinforcement, we guide children in developing a strong moral foundation.

 

Foster Positive Relationships and Community

We believe in the power of teamwork, empathy, and social responsibility. By encouraging collaboration, active listening, and respect for diverse perspectives, we support children in building positive relationships and understanding their role in the wider community. We celebrate and welcome differences, creating a school environment where everyone feels valued.

 

Celebrate Cultural Diversity and Global Awareness

We expose our children to the rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and histories within our school, community, and beyond. Through learning about different customs, faiths, and viewpoints, we cultivate an appreciation for diversity, helping children develop an open mind and a global perspective.

We aim to nurture spiritually, morally, socially, and culturally aware individuals who embrace diversity and understand their responsibilities as members of a democratic society.  We instil confidence and resilience, encouraging children to persevere, set goals, and contribute positively to their community. Through a celebration of the uniqueness of every child,  we foster a respectful, inclusive environment that supports their growth and potential. Our approach is underpinned by a sense of moral purpose and commitment to doing what is right for children and young people, supporting colleagues to achieve excellence and acting with integrity in all our dealings within and beyond the organisation, in the interests of young people everywhere.  We summarise this ethos as the best in everyone which is underpinned by our core values.  Our Values of Respect, Confidence, Ambition, Determination, Creativity and Enthusiasm thread through everything we do at High Hazels Academy.  

Respect	Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural development, is a core part of High Hazels Academy, emphasising values and skills that support the holistic development of our children. Respect is a central value woven throughout each SMSC dimension, contributing to a well-rounded approach that helps our children understand and appreciate diversity, ethics, relationships, and community.  In practice, school promotes SMSC and respect through assemblies, curriculum choices, extracurricular activities, and daily interactions.
Confidence	Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural development at High Hazels Academy is not only about teaching values but also plays a crucial role in building confidence in our children. Each component of SMSC offers opportunities for children to develop self-assurance, self-expression, and a sense of identity—key aspects that contribute to confidence. SMSC and confidence are linked through activities that promote expression, participation, and self-reflection.
Ambition	Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural development at High Hazels Academy plays a significant role in fostering ambition among our children. Each SMSC component supports the development of personal goals, aspirations, and the drive to succeed in ways that align with positive values and a sense of purpose.  We promote SMSC and ambition by encouraging our children to participate in projects, set personal goals, and celebrate individual and collective achievements.
Determination	Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural development contributes meaningfully to fostering determination in our children. Each component of SMSC nurtures resilience, perseverance, and a strong work ethic, which are key aspects of developing a determined mindset.  We promote determination through SMSC by encouraging our children to set personal goals, engage in activities that require sustained effort, and participate in reflective activities.
Creativity	Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural development plays a key role in nurturing creativity in our children. Each SMSC dimension fosters an open, curious mindset, encouraging our children to explore new ideas, express themselves, and think innovatively. SMSC and creativity are linked through activities that encourage self-expression, exploration, and collaboration. Art projects, storytelling, role-playing, cultural celebrations, and collaborative problem-solving are used effectively to engage children in creative processes. By incorporating SMSC into activities where children can explore their interests, think critically, and work with others, creative thinking is built which benefit our children in all areas of their learning and development.
Enthusiasm	Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural development helps cultivate enthusiasm in our children by fostering an engaging, inclusive, and values-centred environment. Each SMSC component supports excitement, curiosity, and a positive attitude toward learning and self-expression. SMSC and enthusiasm are linked through activities that encourage curiosity, engagement, and personal connection. Creative projects, discussions on real-world issues, cultural celebrations, and collaborative tasks are all effective ways to make learning vibrant and enjoyable. We integrate SMSC into the curriculum in a way that values our children’s interests and fosters a sense of belonging, to inspire an enthusiastic, lifelong love for learning.

 

 

Our School Approach

Our school curriculum and provision is planned to support this, and is enriched with a wealth of opportunities for children to learn and play together, to take part in a wide variety of cultural and extra curricular activities, and to mix with people of other ages, cultures and faiths in order to develop understanding and interest in the wider world and community.  The provision for childrens’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural education is broad and can be seen across the school’s activities but draws together many of the areas covered by the personal development, education with character and the British Values. 

The promotion of British values is essential to support spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development. The British values: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs, align closely with SMSC and serve as a framework for nurturing well-rounded, respectful, and responsible citizens.

We want to give each child the opportunity to explore social and moral issues; develop a sense of social and moral responsibility and an understanding of the British Values. We therefore aim to provide an education that provides children with opportunities to explore and develop:

•              Their own values and beliefs

•              Their own spiritual awareness

•              Their own high standards of personal behaviour

•              Their team and collaborative skills

•              A positive, caring attitude towards other people

•              An understanding of their social and cultural traditions

•              An understanding of democratic processes and the law in England

•              An appreciation and acceptance of the diversity and richness of their cultures

•              Their opportunities to experience other cultures

•              Their ability to celebrate each other’s successes

Through this SMSC vision, we aim to prepare our children not only for academic success but for lifelong personal and social growth, enabling them to make positive contributions in an interconnected world.

 

British Values

• Across our schools we actively promote these values through the work of our curriculum, our assemblies, our class assemblies, the teaching of PHSCE and the Religious Education curriculum
• We challenge childrens, staff and parents who express opinions contrary to British values through our behaviour policies, which underpin our work.
• Children are given a broad general knowledge of, and we promote respect for, public institutions and services.
• We encourage the children to become involved in decision making and we ensure that children are listened to in school.
• We help our children to express their views by developing speaking and listening, debate and discussion through our curriculum.
• We show our children how perceived injustices can be peacefully challenged through our behaviour policy, our expectations , our conscious discipline and zones of regulation work.
• We teach our children school rules and help them to distinguish right from wrong.
• We help children develop an age-appropriate understanding of living under the rule of law and how that protects individuals in our society.
• We work closely with the police and other agencies to develop restorative justice and resolve conflicts.
• As an inclusive school, we actively support our pupils to develop their self-knowledge, self -esteem and self -confidence.
• We promote and implement a strong anti-bullying culture.
• We help our pupils develop an awareness of their own and other cultures and ways of life.
• We challenge discriminatory or prejudicial behaviour.
• We have good links to a range of faith organisations and encourage visits and visitors.
• We discuss all kinds of differences between people and encourage pupils to develop critical personal thinking skills.
• We endeavour to prepare our pupils for life as active citizens of diverse modern Britain.

SMSC education will take place across all areas of the curriculum.SMSC has particularly strong links to religious education, collective learning such as assemblies, pastoral sessions and PSHE education. All areas of the curriculum will draw examples from as wide a range of cultural contexts as possible.

 

Evidence Across the Wider School