Promoting community cohesion and SMSC

• Home
• Childcare, Education and Learning
• Schools
• Information for School Staff
• Religious Education
• Promoting community cohesion and SMSC

The 2002 Education Act laid a duty on maintained schools to:

1. promote the well-being of pupils at the school, and
2. in the case of a school in England, promote community cohesion.’

This duty came into effect on 1 September 2007. From 1 September 2008, HMCI has a duty under section 5 of the Education Act 2005 (as inserted by section 154 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006) to report on the contribution made by schools to community cohesion.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) published Guidance on the duty to promote community cohesion 1 to support schools in implementing the duty. This extract from the DCSF guidance defines community cohesion in the context of schools as follows:

‘What is community cohesion? : By community cohesion, we mean working towards a society in which there is a common vision and sense of belonging by all communities; a society in which the diversity of people’s backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and valued; a society in which similar life opportunities are available to all; and a society in which strong and positive relationships exist and continue to be developed in the workplace, in schools and in the wider community2.

Ofsted will be looking for evidence to evaluate a school’s contribution to promoting well-being.  Guidance on practical examples of the ways in which schools can contribute to well-being includes 'Delivering high quality citizenship and RE, to help children understand how society works; to prepare them for playing their part as adult citizens; and to help them understand other faiths and cultures while developing a sense of shared identity.’.

The 1944 Education Act laid a requirement on schools '‘to promote the spiritual, moral, mental, cultural and physical development of pupils’. This is sometimes referred to in the abbreviation SMSC.  

The following  websites for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development (SMSC) are recommended for schools' consideration: