SMSC & British Values

At Meridian our intention is to set out an outstanding provision of personal development through the following: 

Developing:  

• Responsible, respectful and active citizens who are able to play their part and become actively involved in public life as adults  
• Pupils’ understanding of the fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance  
• Pupils’ character, which Ofsted defines as a set of positive personal traits, dispositions and virtues that informs their motivation and guides their conduct so that they reflect wisely, learn eagerly, behave with integrity and cooperate consistently well with others  
• Pupils’ confidence, resilience and knowledge so that they can keep themselves mentally healthy  
• Pupils’ understanding of how to keep physically healthy, eat healthily and maintain an active lifestyle, including giving ample opportunities for pupils to be active during the school day and through extra-curricular activities  
• Pupils’ age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships through appropriate relationships and sex education  

Promoting:  

• Equality of opportunity so that all pupils can thrive together, understanding that difference is a positive, not a negative, and that individual characteristics make people unique  
• An inclusive environment that meets the needs of all pupils, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation  

Enabling:  

• Pupils to recognise online and offline risks to their wellbeing – for example, risks from criminal and sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, substance misuse, gang activity, radicalisation and extremism – and making them aware of the support available to them  
• Pupils to recognise the dangers of inappropriate use of mobile technology and social media 

Meridian will teach personal development though a range of ways throughout a child’s school life. For example: 

• it is taught with cross-curricular links in other lessons, such as English, physical education and religious education; 
• staff members consistently model how to be a good citizen who uphold the school values; 
• assemblies (whole school, singing, class and special visitors); 
• Annual events; e.g. Comic relief and Children in Need 
• specialist staff working with individuals and groups; 
• Online Safety lessons in computing and in assemblies; 
• Recognising positive learning attributes through our behaviour policy; rewards, postcards, gold coins 
• huge array of before and after school clubs; 
• well thought through transitions throughout the school and beyond; 
• focusing on mental and physical health; 
• School council; 
• eco-council group; 
• OPAL play leaders 
• celebrating different languages, cultures and religions; 
• outdoor activity trips.  

At Meridian we will achieve this by:

• Provide high-quality pastoral support 
• Provide a wide range of opportunities to nurture, develop and stretch pupils’ talents and interests. Pupils appreciate these and make good use of them 
• Prepare pupils for life in modern Britain effectively, developing their understanding of the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, tolerance and respect through our Jigsaw curriculum
• Promote equality of opportunity and diversity effectively 
• Provide pupils with meaningful opportunities to understand how to be responsible, respectful, active citizens who contribute positively to society 
• Work to enhance pupils' SMSC development, and this work is high quality

Your curriculum will:

• Extend beyond the academic, vocational or technical and provide for pupils’ broader development 
• Support pupils to be confident, resilient and independent, and to develop strength of character

We want our children to:

• Engage with views, beliefs and opinions that are different from their own, in considered ways 
• Show respect for the different protected characteristics as defined in law and not tolerate discrimination 
• Know how to discuss and debate issues in a considered way 
• Understand, appreciate and respect differences in the world and its people, celebrating things we share in common across cultural, religious, ethnic and socio-economic communities 
• Know how to eat healthily, maintain an active lifestyle and keep physically and mentally healthy
• Have an age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships

Coming soon... 

Development of a citizenship award.  

The purpose of the new awards are: 

• to recognise and acknowledge the active role pupils play in the life of the school and the wider community 
• to encourage children to make positive choices which will benefit their class, school and community 
• to encourage children to become responsible, informed and active members of their class, school and wider community 
• to encourage children to learn about aspects of citizenship education, including topical issues, rule and law-making, democracy, human rights, diversity.