PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

The over-arching purpose is of the Personal Development curriculum is that:

‘Pupils will have studied and enjoyed experiences that teach them valuable life skills. They will have developed the confidence, tenacity and intuition to look after themselves, and others. They will demonstrate a deep understanding of the beliefs, faiths, cultures, rights and opinions of others and will be openly accepting and tolerant of differences; physical, cognitive or otherwise. Our students will value democracy and independence; they will seek justice in, at times, an unjust world and strive to make it a better place for themselves and those they are in contact with. They will know the value of honesty, kindness, empathy and compassion, as well as hard work, money and relevant qualifications. Our students will be as unique and diverse as the communities and families that they come from and celebrate these with integrity and respect. They will be morally proud and culturally aware. They understand and be able to apply the skills required to be successful in life, and also save a life. Students will be honourable and driven to achieve, in relation to their own capabilities; they will be humble in success and dignified in defeat, but they will never give up.’

The intent is:

‘To ensure the holistic development of pupils through provision of exceptional education every day. To develop and equip pupils with the outstanding character, social skills and moral compass to drive their own success and make a positive contribution to society.’

The discrete aims are:

• To extend our whole school provision beyond the academic, vocational and technical
• To provide inclusive and accessible opportunities for all pupils
• To support and encourage pupils to pursue their individual talents and interests
• To provide the opportunities to learn from experience
• To address the holistic development of all pupils
• To ensure our pupils are safe and happy and know how to maintain these, and what to do in the event that either is compromised
• To support the successful development of pupils in many diverse aspects of life

The aims and intent of the framework are based on the school values of:

• Be Kind
• Be Brave
• Be Present

In addition, the framework promotes and upholds the values of Minerva Learning Trust;

• Inclusion
• Independence
• Respect
• Success

Personal development involves knowledge, attitudes, skills, relationships and behaviour that can be utilised in and outside the classroom. This involves thinking processes, managing emotions, values and relationships along with a range of life skills that are associated with performing as a successful members of society.

Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is a key part of our Personal Development (PD) curriculum. Through RSHE, students develop the knowledge, skills and values they need to build positive relationships, understand health and wellbeing, and make informed, respectful choices as they grow. RSHE supports students’ personal, social and emotional development and prepares them for life in modern Britain. Please see a full mapping document for our Citizenship and PSHE curriculum below. This covers health and wellbeing, sex and relationships, the wider world (careers education, information and guidance) along with citizenship. There is also information on this document on the ‘Right to Withdraw’.

Careers education is an integral part of our PD curriculum. It helps students understand the world of work, explore future pathways and develop the skills, aspirations and confidence needed to make informed choices about their next steps. Through PD, careers learning supports students to recognise their strengths, set goals and prepare for further education, training or employment. Further information on our careers programme can be found on the careers section of our website.

British Values are embedded throughout our PD curriculum. Students are taught to understand and respect democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. Through PD, we help students develop the attitudes, knowledge and behaviours needed to contribute positively to school life, the local community and wider society.

At Handsworth Grange, our Personal Development curriculum consists of 4 key elements: