The Personal Development Programme builds on prior knowledge, skills, attributes and values that all students have acquired and developed during their primary education, including those who are disadvantaged and SEND.

It acknowledges and addresses the changes that young people experience, beginning with transition to secondary school, the challenges of adolescents and their increasing independence. Whilst accounting for delays and gaps in personal development as a result of the pandemic.

The curriculum is broad and balanced so that students learn to manage diverse relationships, their online lives and the increasing influence of peers and the media. Developing student’s cultural capital and equipping them for the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges of life.

The curriculum offer encapsulates the Spiritual, Moral, Social & Cultural development of a child, allowing them access to a diverse an inclusive Personal, Social, Health and Economic education which encompasses Relationships, Sexual Health, Citizenship and Careers.

Students are able to learn within an inclusive environment that meets the needs of all pupils, irrespective of age, disability, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. An environment where equality and diversity are celebrated through individualism and the enjoyment of learning about themselves and others.

Students will deepen their substantive and disciplinary knowledge as they move through a planned and sequenced curriculum map. They will extend and rehearse skills, further explore attitudes, understand the fundamental British values and develop their emotional literacy, allowing them to move towards an independent role in adult life, taking on greater responsibility for themselves and others.

The Personal Development curriculum builds foundations within a 1 hour per week curriculum for Year 7, 8 and 9 as well as a weekly Tutor Time programme throughout key stage 3, 4 and 5.

Resources are sequenced within the Year 7 schedule and focus on key themes such as:	Resources are sequenced within the Year 8 schedule and focus on key themes such as:
- Living in the Wider World - relationships, Identity and Safety - Heathy Living and Responsible Health Choices - Puberty, Emotional Health and Wellbeing.	- Sex, Relationships & Conflict - Prejudice, Values, Extremism & Cults - Careers & Finance - County Schools Challenge - Health Choices - Discrimination, prejudice & Challenges
Resources are sequenced within the Year 9 schedule and focus on key themes such as:	Resources are sequenced within the Tutor Time schedule and focus on key themes such as:
- Healthy Relationships with ourselves & Others - Our Health & Personal Safety - Achieving with Good Mental Health - Preparing for the Wider World-Careers & Enterprise - Preparing for the Wider World-Finance - Rights & Responsibilities	- Staying Safe Online - Relationships and Sexual Health - Health and Wellbeing - Life Beyond School - Celebrating Diversity and Equality - Rights, Responsibilities and British Value

Curriculum changes are embedded throughout the year to address the contextual needs of the school, individual year groups, as well as interests and requirements within the community. These sessions are prepared by expert leaders and where appropriate some are led by external professions.

The delivery of the curriculum promotes appropriate classroom discussion, opinion and debate, checking pupils’ understanding systematically, as well as identify and challenging misconceptions relating to case studies and real-life scenarios.

This extends beyond our academic curriculum, enabling students to build confidence, resilience, independence as well as identify and manage risks, make informed choices and understand what influences their decisions and the impact this has on their future.

Students apply their knowledge and transferrable skills within the wider curriculum and this is assessed through behaviour and safeguarding data, termly assessments, confidence checkers, case studies and impact reports. Findings from assessment and feedback are shared amongst teaching staff and the curriculum drop down days are designed to address misconceptions and gaps in knowledge.

PSHE & RSHE is delivered to all students in accordance with the Academy’s Equal Opportunities Policy and is planned alongside the DFE statutory guidance on Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education, updated September 2021.

To view a copy of the latest DFE guidance, click here.

Please click here to go to our parent survey should you wish to raise any concerns.

Below you will find the curriculum map for PSHE & RSHE, the RSE policy and a parent consultation letter.