Spiritual, Moral, Social & Cultural

SMSC represents Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural aspects of learning, and is therefore evident in nearly all aspects of The Petchey Way and academy life. As a diverse school serving a dynamic and rapidly changing community, SMSC exists in abundance. 

We are a non-denominational school so students of all religious and cultural backgrounds are respected and celebrated. Through weekly Religious Education lessons, trips and workshops, as well as through daily seminar time students develop their knowledge and understanding of a wide range of belief systems; and are encouraged t0 discuss and challenge one another’s beliefs and views. 

Students’ moral and ethical development is further supported through the main curriculum; including in English, Science, Humanities and the Arts; subjects in which students regularly debate and develop their own sense of right and wrong. Weekly assemblies and PSHE lessons further allow these skills to be applied to the real world, as students are expected to be able to give reasons to support their views. 

Through routines such as daily line up, clubs and high expectations during social time, students are continually utilising a wide range of social skills, through interacting with students that they do not encounter in their lessons. Students of all backgrounds are encourage to work and play together; generating shared interests and a shared identity as part of the Petchey community.

Knowledge and understanding of diverse cultures are developed and experienced through events both national (Black History Month) and academy based (Cultural Dress Day).