British Values, SMSC and Protected Characteristics
British Values Poster Competition Winner by Chole Cole, 2026
At Forestdale Primary School, we are committed to developing pupils who are respectful, responsible and prepared for life in modern Britain. This is reflected across the whole curriculum and wider school life, including our Kapow curriculum, school values, English curriculum and enrichment opportunities, where British Values, Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development, Protected Characteristics and our school values are embedded throughout all subjects and experiences.
We want every child to understand what it means to be a good citizen, to value diversity and to contribute positively to society.
British Values
We actively promote the five fundamental British Values:
- Democracy
- Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual Respect
- Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
At Forestdale, these values are reinforced regularly through the curriculum, pupil voice, close links with the community and collective worship. Pupils engage with these values and understand how they influence their choices, attitudes and behaviour, helping them to become responsible citizens.
SMSC Development
SMSC stands for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development.
At Forestdale, SMSC is embedded across the whole curriculum and wider school life, helping pupils develop as confident, thoughtful and responsible individuals.
Pupils develop:
- Spiritual development through reflection, curiosity and asking big questions about the world
- Moral development through understanding right and wrong and making informed choices
- Social development through teamwork, communication and positive relationships
- Cultural development through learning about and respecting different cultures and traditions
These aspects are reinforced through lessons, assemblies, enrichment opportunities and daily interactions across the school.
Protected Characteristics
We actively teach pupils about the Protected Characteristics as part of our commitment to equality and inclusion.
These are:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
Pupils develop their understanding of these across the whole curriculum, helping them to respect differences, challenge stereotypes and celebrate diversity within our school community.
Where British Values, SMSC and Protected Characteristics are taught
These areas are not taught in isolation but are embedded across the whole curriculum and wider school experiences, including English, topic work, enrichment opportunities, assemblies and daily school life.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Children begin to develop understanding through play, routines and relationships. They learn to:
- Follow rules and routines and understand fairness
- Share, take turns and respect others
- Recognise similarities and differences between themselves and others
- Make simple choices and begin to understand consequences
- Explore different families, cultures and traditions through stories and play
Year 1 and Year 2
Pupils build on early foundations by:
- Taking part in class voting and pupil voice activities (Democracy)
- Learning why rules are important in school and society (Rule of Law)
- Making safe and responsible choices (Individual Liberty)
- Exploring kindness, fairness and respectful relationships (Mutual Respect)
- Learning about different cultures, faiths and communities (Tolerance and Protected Characteristics)
Year 3 and Year 4
Pupils develop deeper understanding by:
- Participating in School Council elections and structured pupil voice (Democracy)
- Understanding consequences of actions and personal responsibility (Rule of Law)
- Exploring rights, choices and responsibilities (Individual Liberty)
- Discussing stereotypes, diversity and inclusion (Mutual Respect)
- Learning about life in modern Britain and the wider world (Tolerance and Protected Characteristics)
This is also developed through curriculum topics such as history, geography and English, where pupils explore real-world issues and different perspectives.
Year 5 and Year 6
Pupils apply their understanding in more complex and reflective ways by:
- Debating issues and presenting reasoned arguments respectfully (Democracy)
- Exploring rights and responsibilities in society (Rule of Law and Liberty)
- Discussing equality, prejudice and discrimination (Protected Characteristics)
- Reflecting on diversity in modern Britain and global communities (Mutual Respect and Tolerance)
- Taking on leadership roles across the school that promote British Values
Our Commitment
At Forestdale Primary School, we believe these areas are essential in helping children grow into confident, respectful and responsible members of society. Through the whole curriculum and wider school ethos, we ensure pupils are well prepared for life in modern Britain and understand the importance of equality, respect and inclusion.