The school has an active College Council, made up of democratically elected students, who meet weekly and inform decision making around the school. Surveys of students, parents and staff are carried out at least twice a year annually to gather opinions about all aspects of the school and results influence the school improvement plan. The college operates a system of Restorative Practice to resolve conflicts in peaceful and fair ways. Every person involved has a voice in this process.

In SMSC, assemblies and form time lessons, students are given general knowledge of public institutions and services and how these are held to account. In all lessons, students are encouraged to express and argue their points of view in an atmosphere of respect.

Students are actively taught to distinguish between right and wrong, and to make reparation as needed. Students are taught that there are positive and negative consequences to their actions, and that breaking school rules has clear and predictable outcomes, as with British law.

When college rules are discussed, students can see how they are designed to protect everyone in the school community. We work in partnership with our police liaison officer, to give advice on personal safety but also to reinforce messages that some activities are illegal and what the consequences might be. We place an emphasis on sports, and promoting the rules and laws of team games.

Our school aims to help each student achieve self-confidence, initiative and independence. We actively teach students to take responsibility for their behaviour as well as knowing their rights. We educate and provide boundaries for students to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education.

As a school, students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our eSafety assemblies and tutor time. We challenge stereotypes in all areas of the curriculum and are truly inclusive, so that all students can participate fully in all areas of the curriculum, including opportunities where students develop their understanding of important issues and debates. Bullying, though rare, is taken seriously and addressed swiftly. We believe in Freedom of speech, and the responsibilities that come with that, are modelled through student participation and that we respect each other’s viewpoints.

The curriculum and ethos promotes respect for individual difference. World Culture and RE, as well as other curriculum areas including PE, Business and English, help students acquire an understanding of, and respect for, their own and other cultures and ways of life. We ensure that any prejudicial or discriminatory behaviour is challenged and recorded, with students made aware of the seriousness of such incidents.

Mutual Respect: Our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy. Students learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. Staff and students treat each other with respect.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs: The college is a multi-cultural and multi-faith positive ethos. We actively promote diversity through our celebrations of different faiths and cultures. Assemblies, Religious Education, tutor time and through the skills lessons reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others. Members of different faiths and religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school.