The SMSC Quality Mark
Whether new to SMSC learning or highly experienced with this OFSTED requirement, we can help. Developed by experts, the National SMSC Quality Mark self-review tool gives clear, practical advice to schools. A single payment of £115 + VAT gives you access to our online self-review tool for 3 years, enabling you to carry out a comprehensive audit of SMSC provision in your school and identify areas for development.
We also invite schools to submit their self-review for verification by a member of our team (at a cost of £550* + VAT). Why is this helpful? We champion the importance of SMSC delivery, because it underpins the best education and prepares young people for the world. With independent validation, you will obtain an objective view of your achievements and raise the profile of your school in your community.
*As we have a limited number of verifiers to cover the whole country, we may need to charge travel costs depending on the location of your school. This will be discussed and agreed when you book your verification.
Online Self-Review Tool
Completing the self-assessment is simple – just read the self-review statements and determine which best reflects your school’s approach in response to each of the four standards: Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural. Where statements are made about pupils’ learning and development, this should be judged at an stage-appropriate level.
Schools should adopt a ‘best fit’ approach that relies on their professional judgement. We suggest that SMSC leads check their perceptions with colleagues, governors, parents and pupils where appropriate, to ensure they have a clear picture about SMSC provision across the whole school.
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When used effectively the self-review tool provides a valuable overview of your school’s SMSC education. The tool comprises of thorough, easy-to-follow criteria that is divided into four standards of provision:
- The Effectiveness of Leadership and Management
- Teaching, Learning and the Curriculum
- Extra-curricular Provision
- Whole School
Based on your responses to the criteria, the Tool will generate an overall SMSC provision grading of either: emerging, bronze, silver and gold.
We recommend that the self-review process involves a school-wide consultation to provide an informed response to the criteria. We advise teachers not to complete it in one sitting as many of the criteria require reflection. The form will automatically save as you work through it, enabling you to return and complete more sections as you reflect on other sources to supplement your responses.
Once you have completed the self-review tool your result will be calculated to determine whether your school is working at a emerging, bronze, silver or gold level.
We hope that schools will use their completed self-review document as the basis for developing an action plan to further improve their provision of SMSC, and apply for a verification visit in order to have their evaluation verified. SMSC Quality Marks are valid for three years.
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