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Personal Development

Curriculum Map

SMSC / PSHE

Curriculum Map

SMSC / Subjects

Curriculum Map

Our Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural Curriculum and how we promote Fundamental British Values

At Parkside Academy, we place the highest value on SMSC — the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of every pupil. We are a proudly inclusive and diverse community where SMSC is not an add-on but the foundation of everything we do.

Our SMSC curriculum is often referred to as the “hidden curriculum.” It encompasses all the experiences, values, and opportunities we provide to help children grow into confident, responsible, and well-rounded individuals. Rather than being delivered through a single subject, SMSC is embedded across the curriculum — through RE, PE, PSHE/RSE — and is reflected in our school ethos, behaviour expectations, and daily interactions.

We aim to prepare our pupils for life beyond school in modern Britain. We nurture aspirations, encourage self-improvement, and promote equality so that every child can thrive alongside their peers in the wider world.

At Parkside, SMSC comes alive through real-life experiences, celebrations, trips, and everyday moments that children will remember and cherish. We want our pupils to carry these lessons with them, embracing opportunities and making a positive impact in their communities and beyond.

Promoting Fundamental British Values as part of SMSC

At Parkside Academy, our vision is to prepare our learners for life in modern Britain and equip them fully for life in the 21st century. Cultural capital gives our students the vital background knowledge required to be informed and thoughtful members of our community who understand and believe in British values. We recognise the multi-cultural and multi-faith nature of the United Kingdom and understand the crucial role our school plays in promoting these values.  We encourage admissions from all those entitled to education under British law regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status. We are a school for all.  This statement outlines the key British values we actively promote. 

The Department for Education states that there is a need:

“to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs”.

The Department for Education defines British Values as follows:

  • Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process
  • Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England
  • Support for equality of opportunity for all
  • Support and respect for the liberties of all within the law
  • Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religious and other beliefs

All of our curriculum areas provide a vehicle for furthering understanding of these concepts and, in particular, RE and PSHE provide opportunities to deepen and develop understanding. We encourage our children to be creative, unique, open-minded and independent individuals, respectful of themselves and of others in our school, our local community and the wider world. We aim to nurture our children on their journey through life so they can grow into safe, caring, democratic, responsible and tolerant adults who make a positive difference to British Society and to the world.