Spiritual, Social, Moral and Cultural Values

In Carluke High School all pupils in years S1 - S4 follow a course of Religious Education. Religious Education is a basic part of the school curriculum aiming to develop appreciation of Christianity and other religions and cultures.

Regular assemblies are held in the street every month and there are special services at Christmas and Easter. Our school chaplains team consists of Rev Iain Cunningham, Kirkton Church; Rev Elijah Obinna, St John's Church; Mrs Lesley Ewing, Children and Youth Worker at Kirkton Church.

Rights of Parents / Carers
Scottish Government Ministers consider that religious observance complements religious education and is an important contribution to pupils’ development. It should also have a role in promoting the ethos of a school by bringing pupils together and creating a sense of community.

There is a statutory provision for parents to withdraw children from participation in religious observance. This right of parents’ wishes will be respected.

Where a child is withdrawn from religious observance, schools will make suitable arrangements for the child to participate in a worthwhile alternative activity.

Equalities
Integral to this guidance is the principle of mutual respect. The diversity of belief and tradition provides an ideal context in which pupils can learn about, and so learn from, what is important in the lives of themselves and others. South Lanarkshire’s guidance recognises and welcomes diversity and promotes respectful understanding.

Parents may request that their children be permitted to be absent in order to celebrate recognised religious events. Advance notice should be provided to the school when children will be absent. Appropriate requests will be granted and the pupil noted as an authorised absentee in the register.

Equal Opportunities and Social Justice
All members of staff in Carluke High School, by their actions and through their teaching will ensure that every pupil will have equality of opportunity and educational experience regardless of race, religion, gender or disability.

Various initiatives are underway within the school to help both staff and pupils in this area including the monitoring of subject uptake in S3, S4 and S5 by gender.

There is an Equal Opportunities section of work in the P.S.E. programme in all years and through this and other areas of the curriculum pupils are made aware of the demands of living in, and contributing to, a multicultural society.

Reporting of Racist Incidents
Schools take seriously any reported racist incidents. Within the school’s approach to promoting positive discipline a record of all racist incidents is maintained and each incident fully investigated. 

Schools are required to notify the local authority of all racist incidents. A member of the Senior Staff, Mrs Sim, is responsible for this area and any queries regarding Equal Opportunities should be made to her.