After years of being consigned to the curricular wilderness, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development has taken centre stage at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (the former Schools Curriculum and Assessment Authority). The first stage of an 18-month pilot project in 50 volunteer schools is now underway. The schools will be putting an exhaustive set of support and guidance materials on trial, including: * a statement of values developed by the National Forum for Values in Education and the Community

* key stage objectives complete with examples of learning opportunities

* guidelines on monitoring and evaluating school success

* methods of recognising and rewarding achievement.

TONY McSweeney