Citizenship

SMSC is the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural education of students in UHS, ensuring that all students receive a balanced and positive education throughout their teenage years. With this, citizenship co-ordinates approximately 80 tutors across years 7-13 with a rigorous combined citizenship, PSHE and careers programme taught over a two-week cycle. Tutors are supported and the skills they learn are encouraged throughout the school.

Mental health and equality is a focus for this year, building on the excellent foundation of the past few years. With this in mind we have introduced mental health ambassadors and anti-bullying leaders and ambassadors which meet on a weekly rotation in the open reflection space – which provides a safe, open and understanding place for students at lunchtime. We have also developed the school ‘PRIDE’ club which meets twice a week to discuss LGBT issues amongst students and staff. We continue to improve this in the coming year through partnership with Healthwatch Hillingdon.

With regard to the wider citizenship curriculum we have established and improved LORIC values, careers, PHSE and RSE teaching, including updating the RSE policy for 2020 governmental guidance. Knife crime and radicalisation continues to be a focus, with awareness between staff and students improved through external agency links through the MET and Kidscape.

Active Citizenship and British Values are fully standardised and students regularly take an active part in their local community through charity work, including donations and volunteering towards a number of charities including the Hillingdon Food Bank, Kidscape and the Guide Dogs.