Personal Development

Personal Development is a compulsory lesson for all students at key stage 4. Lessons are taught once per fortnight. Personal Development covers subject areas such as PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) education, Citizenship and Careers education. Personal Development lessons also make regular links to the schools’ values of ‘be kind, work hard and aim high’ and the British values of Democracy; Rule of Law; Individual Liberty; Tolerance and Respect. The Personal Development curriculum is also linked to the school assembly programme and the tutor programme. Lessons are always taught in an age-appropriate and sensitive manner.

Personal Development lessons are divided into three themes. These are studied in order as the year progresses. 

Health and Wellbeing: The Health and Wellbeing unit is currently taught in terms 1 and 2. In this unit students look at their general health and wellbeing with topics such as drugs education and mental health education being a particular focus at key stage 4. In year 11, there is also a focus on financial literacy and economic education. 

RSE: Relationships and sex education is currently taught in terms 3 and 4. As well as sex education, students all look at relationships education and important topics such as consent. There are also lessons which focus on different families and parental responsibility.

Living in the Wider World: The Living in the Wider World unit is currently taught in terms 4 and 5. In Year 10, the focus is on careers education and preparing for work experience. Topics in Year 10 and 11 also include communities, belonging and different forms of extremism.

Personal Development is a non-examination subject.