Personal Development

• Personal Development lessons covers a broad curriculum through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and prepared for life and work.
• Pupils are taught and encouraged to live healthy, safe, productive, capable, responsible and balanced lives.
• Pupils are supported in making effective decisions, positive learning, career choices and in achieving economic wellbeing.
• Pupils are provided economic education, which includes topics such as managing your money, debt, interest and tax and student finance, so pupils are prepared for life after school.
• Pupils will also develop inter and intra personal skills allowing them to develop teamwork and personal skills along with key employability skills.
• PSHE focuses on the child and helps them make informed decisions on their physical and mental health, relationships and emotions. 
• The RSE policy and curriculum became compulsory in September 2020. The RSE curriculum contributes to pupils' personal development as part of this judgement and includes
• Sexual harassment, online abuse and sexual violence
• Consent and health relationships, both online and offline
• Online risks

PSHE Relationship and Sex Guidance

Relationship Education, Relationship and Sex Education cross curriculum

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), and Health Education curriculum map

PSHE

Pupils start the week with Votes for Schools which exposes voters to different scenarios both in the UK and beyond. Pupils develop a sound understanding of their wider community and global issues, as well as the ways in which they can use their democratic right to make their voices heard. Votes for Schools resources expose voters to a diverse range of topics, and within these is an opportunity for them to make ethical and moral decisions. Pupils study the fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance

A vital part of Votes for Schools’ mission is to embed the skills that, through debate and discussion, provide young people with tolerance, empathy and understanding: these are the skills that they use to respect diversity. An inclusive learning environment meets the needs of all pupils, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Votes for Schools specifically covers topics that align with SMSC such as the Equalities Act 2010, Black History Month, Inter-Faith Week, and Pride Month.

SMSC

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development is the over-arching umbrella that encompasses personal development across the whole curriculum. Rowhill School holds the Silver SMSC Quality Mark and are we are working towards achieving Gold in 2023. Our mission statement ‘Respect, Achieve, Succeed’ exemplifies our attitude and approach to the importance of the development of all aspects of SMSC. We recognise and firmly believe that the development of pupils, spiritually, morally, socially and culturally plays a significant part not only in their ability to learn and achieve but in their ability to relate fully to and have the ability to access the world they live in. We therefore aim to provide an education that provides children with opportunities to explore and develop their own values, whilst recognising that those of others may differ.

All curriculum areas make valuable contributions to pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development and all adults model and promote expected behaviour, treating all people as valuable individuals and showing respect for pupils and their families. Pupils are encouraged to value themselves and others.

Spiritual - Pupils are encouraged to explore their beliefs; respect faiths, feelings and values; use imagination and creativity; and find a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them.

Moral - Pupils should understand their rights and responsibilities and the need to respect the rights of others. Across the curriculum, they are given opportunity to discuss moral and ethical issues so they are able to understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others on these issues.

Social - At the centre of our SMSC provision are the four strands integral to British Values:

• Democracy
• The rule of law
• Individual liberty
• Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Cultural - Cultural education is concerned with the value and richness of cultural diversity in Britain and the wider world, and how this influences individuals and society. At Rowhill, we embrace and celebrate diversity within our school community and beyond. Through extra-curricular activities and school trips, pupils are given the opportunity to develop an appreciation of theatre, sports and the natural world.

As educators, our intention is that pupils develop and demonstrate skills and attitudes that will allow them to participate fully in and contribute positively to life in modern Britain. Activities pupil panels gives the chance to share their ideas and listen to those of their peers as they work collaboratively to make the school a better place.

Prince’s Trust

The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme helps 11 to 19-year-olds develop the skills and confidence they need to reach their goals, through relevant, engaging and informal learning.

The Achieve programme is designed to help young people re-engage with education and support them to achieve their full potential.

Qualification Aim

The Prince’s Trust offers young people the opportunity to achieve a qualification in Personal Development and Employability Skills (PDE) whilst participating in the Achieve programme. The qualification has been developed to recognize the skills and knowledge young people will develop by offering a variety of units linked to the programme.

Intent:

The qualifications recognise a breadth of personal skills, qualities and attitudes valued by employers across a range of sectors, giving the learners the opportunity to: 

• Develop their own personal growth and engagement in learning
• Engage in learning that is relevant to them and support their development of personal skills and attributes that are essential for employment and working life
• Prepare themselves for progression into further education programmes, apprenticeships or other work-based learning
• Develop their literacy, language and numeracy skills

Implementation:

The Achieve programme curriculum promotes a flexible approach, using relevant, experiential learning to support young people to achieve a range of personal and employability skills and gain qualifications.

Pupils will have one timetabled lesson a week.

Impact:

The Prince’s Trust Achieve programme seeks to have a positive impact on:

• Attainment and reaching educational goals, prepare for life after school and their future.
• Attendance: becoming motivated and attending school regularly
• Personal and social development: building confidence, teamwork skills and developing character

In KS3 pupils work towards The Prince’s Trust Level 1 Award in Developing Resilience which recognises the effectiveness of supporting learners to develop resilience as part of their journey towards achieving positive outcomes.

It has been developed with the aim of supporting learners to increase their personal resilience by exploring, experiencing, and developing different protective factors and learning how to apply helpful habits to their real lives to help them manage life’s challenges.

The Qualification gives learners a chance to:

• Connect what they already know about their resilience and link it, through practical, tangible experiences to how they can be more resilient in the future.
• Engage in accessible and relevant Social and Emotional Learning which promotes aspirational thinking.
• Develop an understanding of their resilience to compliment other aspects of their learning journey such as progression in education, maintaining healthy relationships, engaging in their communities, improving health and wellbeing.
• Reflect on their experiences and develop helpful habits which will support the adoption of safer behaviours.
  • Personal Resilience
  • Physical Health
  • Positive Wellbeing
  • Aspirations
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Stronger Communities

Religious Education/Studies (RE)

The aim of RE is to engage pupils to develop an understanding and appreciation for the expression of beliefs, cultural practices and influence of principle religions and worldviews in the local, national and wider global community. At Rowhill School pupils will cover Hinduism, Christianity and alternative religions, e.g. Scientology. Please see separate document on the website for the RE curriculum overview.