Spiritual Development
We want our pupils to be reflective about their own beliefs, but also show interest and respect for the beliefs and faiths of others. We encourage pupils to reflect, not just on their own behaviour and the choices they make, but also on the skills needed to remain calm and focused on their learning.
Some assume spiritual development is about religious exploration or faith, but this is not the case – this subject is covered in EPR, the spiritual in SMSC is concerned with developing the non-material aspects of life, focusing on personal insight, values, meaning and purpose. Beliefs that help provide perspective on life may be rooted in a religion, but equally may not. Creativity and imagination is important, as is a sense of fascination, awe and wonder.
Opportunities for Spiritual development at TCS include:
• Learning together to value the ideas and contributions of all young people in all subjects.
• Providing a varied and exciting curriculum that inspires young people and makes learning enjoyable.
• Coming together in assemblies and special events to share learning with each other and with parents and the community to reflect on our learning experiences.
• Relevant and challenging EPR (Ethics, Philosophy and Religion) lessons.
Moral Development
The moral element is largely about choices, behaviour and how you live your life. It’s also about personal and societal values, understanding the reasons for them and airing and understanding disagreements. Sessions in tutor time or assemblies, or in class, might explore the consequences of decisions, other people’s needs, and ways of learning from experience. Moral development in at TCS enables pupils to build a framework of moral values which regulates their personal behaviour. It is also about the development of understanding of society’s shared and agreed values.
Opportunities for Moral development at TCS include:
· Pupils working together to discuss and agree on what they need to do to create a safe, friendly and inclusive environment for learning.
· Opportunities in the curriculum for our pupils to offer their own points of view and to be able to listen to and value those of others.
· In every classroom and throughout the school environment, young people are encouraged to make positive behaviour choices and develop strategies to manage conflicts effectively.
