Personal and SMSC

(Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural) Development 

The Wider Curriculum

Cultural Capital is something every child possesses, yet the opportunities to build it can vary greatly—particularly in communities experiencing high deprivation and high levels of pupil mobility. At our school, we view Cultural Capital as the essential knowledge, skills, values, and behaviours that open doors for pupils: enabling them to flourish academically, thrive socially, and feel confident in the wider world.

It is the golden thread that connects every aspect of school life and plays a central role in promoting pupils’ Social, Moral, Spiritual, and Cultural (SMSC) development. Through rich experiences and a carefully designed curriculum, we actively develop pupils’ understanding of themselves and others, nurture empathy, encourage reflection, and celebrate diversity.

Our wider curriculum also strengthens pupils’ grasp of Fundamental British Values, Democracy, the Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, and Mutual Respect and Tolerance, embedding these principles through daily routines, assemblies, enrichment opportunities, and real-world responsibilities. By offering stability, consistency, and high-quality experiences, we ensure that every child leaves us as a confident, well-rounded young person ready for the next stage of their education and life.

The Cherry Fold Commitment

At Cherry Fold, we are committed to enriching every child’s Cultural Capital—both within the classroom and beyond it. We recognise the barriers some pupils face and work proactively to broaden their horizons through meaningful, carefully planned experiences that help them to develop socially, morally, spiritually, and culturally.

Academic achievement matters, but we also place high value on the personal growth that helps pupils become responsible, empathetic citizens. Through opportunities that promote democracy (such as pupil leadership roles), an understanding of the rule of law through clear expectations and restorative practice), individual liberty (through choice, voice, and self-expression), and mutual respect and tolerance (through inclusive learning and celebration of diversity), our pupils learn how to contribute positively to society.

Throughout their time with us, pupils access a wide range of enrichment activities that build confidence, character, and essential life skills. Alongside celebrating academic progress, we also recognise the behaviours and personal qualities that employers and communities value—resilience, teamwork, leadership, respect, and responsibility. These experiences ensure our pupils leave Cherry Fold equipped not only for secondary school, but for lifelong success.

Here at Cherry Fold, we use Picture News as a meaningful and relevant link to British Values. The resources are designed to provide opportunities for children to learn from our world and develop respect for other’s beliefs, feelings and faiths. They encourage exploration, discussion, challenge and inspire children to learn! Below is an overview of the topics covered last year.

Enrichment

At Cherry Fold, we are committed to recognising and celebrating children’s achievements both inside and outside the classroom.

Our broad programme of enrichment opportunities enables pupils to explore new interests, develop their skills, and enjoy experiences beyond the everyday curriculum. A variety of clubs are offered throughout the school year, available to different classes on a first‑come, first‑served basis.

Throughout the year, we provide a wide range of activities, including:

• Sports clubs – football, netball, tag rugby, athletics, cricket, darts, bowling
• Creative arts clubs – art, craft club, dance, choir, cooking
• STEM activities – BFC STEM club, coding, Lego engineering, parachute club
• Eco and outdoor learning – Eco Club, Allotment Club
• Maths enrichment – TTRS competitions, SATs boosters, problem‑solving competitions
• Languages and culture – cultural celebration days
• Wellbeing and mindfulness – yoga, nurture groups, board games
• Physical and active clubs – multi‑skills
• Community engagement – charity events, visitor workshops, local community projects
• Pupil leadership opportunities – See Pupil Leadership page
• Technology and media – photography, film club
• Seasonal and themed events –  Science Week, World Book Day, TTRS day

Protected Characteristics

Promoting the Protected Characteristics at Cherry Fold

We work to ensure that our children understand that:

At Cherry Fold, there are no outsiders

We celebrate that everyone is different

The Equality Act became law in 2010. It covers everyone in Britain and protects people from discrimination, harassment and victimisation. Everyone in Britain is protected. This is because the Equality Act protects people against discrimination because of the protected characteristics that we all have. Under the Equality Act, there are nine Protected Characteristics:

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender reassignment
4. Race
5. Religion or belief
6. Marriage or civil partnership
7. Sex
8. Sexual orientation
9. Pregnancy and maternity

At Cherry Fold, we actively promote these in our curriculum and work to embed them into our ethos.

Under the Equality Act you are protected from discrimination:

• When you are in the workplace
• When you use public services like healthcare (for example, visiting your doctor or local hospital) or education (for example, at your school or college)
• When you use businesses and other organisations that provide services and goods (like shops, restaurants, and cinemas)
• When you use transport
• When you join a club or association (for example, your local rugby club)
• When you have contact with public bodies like your local council or government departments

Promoting British Values

In-line with DfE regulations, at Cherry Fold Community Primary School we have embraced the opportunity to...

...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 Government set out its definition of British values in 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values were reiterated in 2014.

At Cherry Fold, these values are reinforced within our curriculum in the following ways:

Democracy:

At the start of each school year, every class chooses a representative for the School Council and members of our school leadership team are selected from Y6.

For all these leadership roles, children are given the opportunity to show-case why they should be chosen and their peers then vote accordingly. The successful candidates are announced to the school in the first Celebration Assembly of the year.

To further develop a sense of responsibility, within a democratic setting, all Y6 pupils are given the opportunity to apply for other positions such as Playground Leaders, Librarians and Lunchtime Helpers.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of laws and rules, whether those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at Cherry Fold Community Primary School.

All pupils are involved in formulating and agreeing their Class Charter, and everyone in the school community is aware of their responsibility to behave in an appropriate way.

Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as our local PCSOs and other emergency services help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty:

At Cherry Fold Community Primary School, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment.

As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education.

Cherry Fold Community Primary School is committed to encouraging children to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised how to exercise these safely, for example, through our Collective Worship, e-Safety and PSHE lessons. We are aware that on occasions our pupils may make the wrong choices but our learners are developing in a community which encourages clear reflection and provides targeted support to enable pupils to make better choices next time.

Mutual Respect:

All members of our school community are expected to treat each other with respect.

Pupils are taught that everyone has the right to an opinion, and everyone has the right to have their views heard. The children also learn that how they behave has an effect on their own rights and on the rights of others. They learn to take responsibility for their own actions, work together and value each other’s contributions and ideas.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs: Cherry Fold Community Primary School is an inclusive school and we welcome children from many different countries and of different faiths and cultural backgrounds into our school community. We actively promote and embrace this diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures from around the world in assemblies and focus days.

Our emphasis on global citizenship across our curriculum provides opportunities through various topics to learn and understand more about other people’s lives, and focused Religious Education lessons and PSHE Lessons enable us to reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Followers of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.

GTRSB Pledge

I am writing to commit to the GTRSB Pledge. We are a culturally diverse school community that warmly welcomes families from a variety of backgrounds, cultures and different religious beliefs.

As headteacher of a large school in Burnley, only 3% of our children are from GTRSB families. Nevertheless, it is so important that we engage this community to ensure that they thrive and flourish and want to be in school. As part of this drive, we work closely with the Burnley GRT team with the goal of increasing attendance and promoting the transition to high school. Weekly sessions help to address gaps in learning but also to continue to build fundamental relationships and commitment with the world of education.

We work tirelessly to ensure that all of our pupils regardless of culture are fully included into school life, and all have equal opportunities to take part in activities to enrich and broaden their individual learning experience. We ensure that we explore and are mindful of others’ cultures and beliefs and that we have a variety of learning experiences to allow us to discover and learn about our individual needs and the importance of respecting each other. Where there is discrimination, whether in language or behaviour, it will be challenged. To develop this further, we have embarked on the Equality Mark programme, to again reinforce our ethos to Enjoy, Respect and Succeed.

We know the power of education and how it can boost and enable this group. I have also witnessed how vulnerable they are, and therefore commit to the GTRSB Pledge for Schools to deliver best practice and improve outcomes for GTRSB children and their families.