Policy on Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development of Students

St Clare’s was founded in 1953 with a commitment to promote international education and understanding. Our mission statement is “To advance international education and understanding”. These values are actively promoted to agents, parents and students before arrival and throughout the students’ time with us.

Apart from a small cohort following the Pre IB, all our students study for International Baccalaureate Diploma whose values are very similar to those of St Clare’s. The IB Learner Profile is emphasised during the orientation process, posted in classrooms and mentioned frequently in group meetings. Amongst other characteristics of students that are promoted by the IB are the desire that they should be young people who:

• show initiative, are critical, creative and ethical
• are principled and act with integrity & responsibility
• are open-minded, caring and ready to make a positive difference.

The requirements of CAS include a need for students to reflect in writing on how effectively they:

• work collaboratively with others
• show perseverance and commitment
• consider the ethical implications of their actions.

St Clare’s promotes the values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

We have a commitment to challenge opinions or behaviour which are contrary to these values.

We ensure that extremist or partisan views are not promoted through the curriculum, teaching or other school activities and that when political issues are discussed, a balanced presentation of views takes place.

Principles are actively promoted which:

(i) enable students  to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence e.g. through the support offered by teacher, PTs and wardens, and the wide range of CAS activities; PSHE lessons on self-marketing, conflict resolution and happiness; the CHE programme which develops self-knowledge

(ii) enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England e.g. through the PSHE programme (workshops on British Laws, Citizenship), the ethics section of TOK and aspects of the Activity programme e.g. British Culture Club

(iii) encourage students  to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in our  locality and to society more widely e.g. through the reflective statements which students complete as part of CAS; Service opportunities (KEEN, visiting the elderly, charity shops, conservation work parties, cub scout volunteers, helping Oxford’s homeless, knitting for needs, Ox clean, Library volunteers, Rainbow Run volunteers, teaching assistants); charity fund raising through groups such as Student Council, Under the Same Sun, Overseas community project etc

(iv) enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of and respect for public institutions and services in England e.g. by  PSHE Citizenship lessons.

(v) further tolerance and harmony between different cultural traditions by enabling students to acquire an appreciation of and respect for their own and other cultures e.g. by the provision of first language teaching for all students, the room share policy, international evenings, The Language Network, MUN,  Learner agreement etc.

(vi) encourage respect for other people, paying particular regard to the protected characteristics set out in the 2010 Act e.g. in college regulations, PSHE lessons on Sexual Prejudice, Citizenship & Human Rights

(vii) encourage respect for democracy and support for participation in the democratic process, including respect for the basis on which the law is made and applied in England through the PSHE programme, weekly house meetings, the elected Student Council and MUN Day

Approved ASG September 2015

Updated VPA June 18