SMSC & British Values
SMSC stands for ‘Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural’ development
Jigsaw is committed to working closely and in harmony with its community and celebrating the diversity of the United Kingdom.
We aim to prepare our pupils for life in modern Britain and to ensure that our school ethos, curriculum and approaches to teaching and learning reflect and promote fundamental British values.
We recognise that these values are not unique to Britain alone and that they have come to be accepted throughout the democratic world as a method of creating an orderly society, in which individual members can feel safe, valued and can contribute to for the good of themselves and others. We work alongside our local community and recognise the variety of religious beliefs within it. We take pupils outside the school to take part in local events and meet different members of the community to appreciate the valuable contributions they make.
We take opportunities to:
We understand the role our school has in helping prevent radicalisation and extremism and supporting our pupils to become life-long learners.
Statement:
Many of our school routines are built upon the concept of democracy. Pupils are regularly consulted both formally and informally about how their school might be improved. They see the example that is set with staff working cooperatively & collaboratively with each other to make the school the best it can be.
In Practice:
Pupils learn about democratic processes through involvement in the School Council, mock elections, lessons on British parliamentary system, choosing class and school reinforcers and activities, voting for their nominated charity of the year. Pupils work collaboratively to draw up school and class rules.
Statement:
The school’s behaviour policy is shared and understood and this provides a basis on which other laws and rules and their application is discussed.
Behaviour management strategies reinforce appropriate behaviours and promote understanding of right and wrong.
In Practice:
Pupils are involved in drawing up school and class rules. Data protection, online safety code of conduct are discussed with pupils and promoted cross curricular. Regular visits from police, fire services and other members of public institutions are incorporated into curriculum.
Statement:
Teaching promotes understanding & recognition of individual’s rights and responsibilities with learning about boundaries. Independent thinking and learning are encouraged and there are frequent opportunities to grow in maturity and independence. We value creativity and diversity.
In Practice:
Pupils are encouraged to participate in setting up their schedules and timetables for the day. They can select reinforcers, rewards as well as resources to be used during instruction. The curriculum incorporates objectives to promote independence and pupils are encouraged to be involved in managing their own learning and behaviours. History and other themed weeks provide opportunities to learn about individuals who had a particular impact on the history of Britain and the world at large.
Statement:
We have a clear anti-bullying policy which emphasises the importance of creating an environment in which individuals can feels safe and valued. We recognise the importance of not only respecting one another but also of self-respect. Every individual is respected in our school and our actions towards one another reflect this. We welcome difference and diversity and aim to create understanding of how this adds to the richness of our community.
In Practice:
Our PSHE curriculum includes topics on relationships and what a good relationship consists of. Our RE curriculum which follows the Agreed Syllabus for Surrey teaches about a range of faiths, religions and cultures. We take opportunities to find out about different cultures during our Cultures & Languages week and Topic curriculum. School assemblies include themes on various faiths, religious festivals & cultures. We celebrate European Languages and Mother Tongue day.
To view some of the activities supporting the SMSC and British Values curriculum, please click the tabs below.
Poetry Week
Pupils took part in a variety of activities for Poetry Week. Some of our younger pupils took part in some nursery rhyme activities, particularly ‘Miss Polly had a Dolly’ where they focused on reading/singing the song/poem together, acting out how the dolly might be feeling, exploring the role of a doctor, using stick puppets to create the story and sequencing the order of the story. They also listened to their teacher as they read with emphasis on the rhyming words to develop understanding. Pupils across the School also explored poems of the day, learned more about rhyming words, poetry from different cultures, food poetry and favourite poems. Some of our older pupils also learned more about Lewis Carroll and his connection to Guildford. Some pupils also created some wonderful poems of their own.
Sixth Form Pantomime Trip
In December, our Sixth Form pupils attended the pantomime ‘Beauty and the Beast’ at the Yvonne Arnaud theatre in Guildford. All of the pupils demonstrated good audience skills (which they had been learning about before the trip in their drama club). Some pupils joined in and sang along, whilst others clapped and waved. It was a very enjoyable experience for all pupils who got to practise the different skills involved with a theatre trip.
History Week: Art through the Ages
Pupils took part in a variety of activities for History Week: Art through the Ages. They enjoyed some workshops where they created artwork based on famous paintings through history including the Mona Lisa (Leonardo Da Vinci) and Bridge over Pond of Water Lillies (Claude Monet). They worked collaboratively to create the different final pieces using paint on canvas. Pupils also explored music related to the different time periods such as listening to Renaissance Madrigals by Claudio Monteverdi, impressionistic music by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, music by Erik Satie during the Surrealist art movement and more. Pupils also enjoyed a selection of other art activities throughout the week such as collages based on Salvador Dali’s work linked to unusual thoughts and dreams, and creating faces during a Pablo Picasso/cubism inspired photographic collage activity. Pupils had a fun and creative week!
Youth Engagement Officer Visit
In March we welcomed some Youth Engagement Officers to Jigsaw, where pupils got to meet them and learn about what they do within their roles. Pupils asked some great questions including, how many days a week do you work? Is your job hard? How do you keep us safe? What is the hardest part of your job? Pupils took lots of interest to meet them and one pupil said it was ‘the best day ever’ learning from them.
Mayan Workshop
Pupils took part in a Mayan workshop where they were able to explore the Maya civilisation. They learned about what it was like to live during this time, explored some artefacts and learned to count to three in Maya! They also took part in a drama presentation based on magical creatures that the Maya believed in.
Culture & Languages Week
Pupils took part in a variety of activities for Cultures and Languages Week. Two main highlights included a Brianna McCarthy based art activity and some Steel Pan music workshops. During the art activity pupils learned about what a collage is and practised different art techniques, they created four canvases based on faces by working collaboratively. The steel pan music workshop was enjoyed by all pupils who got to listen to steel pan music being played and have a go at playing themselves. During the sessions they learned about quieter and louder sounds, colours (i.e. play the red dots located on the steel pans), responding to instructions (i.e. everybody STOP playing), how to hold the sticks correctly in order to play the steel pans and identifying high and low notes.
Diya Lamp Painting Workshop
As part of Cultures and Languages week, pupils explored and learned about India including the significance of lighting a Diya lamp for prayers. Pupils took part in a Diya Lamp painting workshop which allowed pupils to develop their artistic talents, express preferences and make choices of design and colour through engaging in a cultural and spiritual activity. They learned about the significance and symbolic meaning of the different colours such as gold, blue, green and red.
Taylor Swift Party
One of our Sixth Form pupils attended the Taylor Swift concert in his free time and wanted to recreate this experience with his peers by planning and hosting a Taylor Swift party. He decorated the hall, organised props, made friendship bracelets and prepared a song list. He also designed and made invitations and delivered them throughout the School to his peers. On the day pupils from across the School joined in the party and some took part in Taylor Swift karaoke! This was a really enjoyable event that promoted good social, spiritual and emotional wellbeing.
Fossil Hunting and Baby Dinosaur Workshop
Pupils thoroughly enjoyed this workshop where they hunted for and identified fossils in large sand boxes, learned about how different dinosaurs lived and what they ate. They also got the chance to meet some baby dinosaurs! The workshop leaders introduced the pupils to the dinosaurs and taught them about what it was like to live as a dinosaur millions of years ago.
