Intent
The intent of Personal Development at Bradon Forest School is to foster the holistic development of students, equipping them with essential skills and qualities that go beyond academic achievement. We recognise that students’ personal, social, and emotional well-being is integral to their overall educational experience and future success. Our core aim is to provide a curriculum that encourages students to be socially responsible, resilient, culturally aware, and equipped to make informed choices.
Aims
The Personal Development provision at our school aims to:
1. Promote students’ self-esteem, emotional intelligence, and well-being.
2. Develop students’ understanding and respect for diversity, equality, and inclusion.
3. Cultivate social skills, teamwork abilities, and leadership qualities among students.
4. Provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary for healthy living and positive relationships.
5. Enable students to make informed, responsible decisions regarding their future education, training, and careers.
6. Encourage students to become active citizens who contribute positively to their local and global communities.
Implementation
The implementation of outstanding Personal Development at Bradon Forest School involves the integration of a well-structured and comprehensive program across the school’s curriculum, pastoral support, and wider provision.
Curriculum Integration
- PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic) Education: Explicitly planned PSHE lessons, age-appropriate, and tailored to students’ needs, cover a wide range of topics such as personal safety, mental health, relationships, and careers guidance. These lessons are thoughtfully sequenced, progressive, and delivered by trained teachers.
- Enrichment Opportunities: Personal Development is enhanced through extracurricular activities, assemblies, and workshops that focus on promoting teamwork, leadership, resilience, and character development.
- Cross-curricular Approach: Personal Development objectives are embedded through the promotion of SMSC within various subjects, allowing students to make connections and apply these skills and knowledge across the curriculum.
- Guest Speakers and Role Models: External speakers and role models from diverse backgrounds are invited to inspire, share experiences, and promote important life skills and values.
Pastoral Support
- Tutor Time: Dedicated time every Wednesday for tutor-led, discursive activities that focus on knowledge of the world around us and how our young people see, feel and respond to events happening all around the world. During these sessions, links are made to the twelve protected characteristics, the four fundamental British Values and how the events are relevant to students themselves in relation to the UN Rights of the Child. Students also address topical events and school values during their weekly year group assemblies.
- Student Leadership: At Bradon Forest, there are plenty of opportunities for students to take on leadership roles within the school community and these roles foster responsibility, resilience, and social skills. Personal Development at Bradon Forest School provides students in leadership roles with even more opportunities to be involved in decision-making processes and contribute to school improvement initiatives.
Wider Provision
- Awareness and Celebration of Diversity: The school actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion through events, discussions, and resources that celebrate different cultures, religions, and lifestyles. All students feel valued and included.
- Partnerships with External Agencies: Collaborations with external organizations and agencies offer workshops, events, and resources that complement the school’s Personal Development provision, ensuring a comprehensive and up-to-date approach.
- Parental Engagement: Regular communication with parents about Personal Development activities and opportunities, along with workshops and parent information sessions, encourage collaboration between home and school.
Impact
The impact of outstanding Personal Development is demonstrated through the positive outcomes it has on students’ well-being, attitudes, and future prospects. The impact criteria include:
- Improved Well-being: Students demonstrate increased self-confidence, emotional resilience, and a healthy approach to managing challenges and setbacks.
- Positive Relationships: Students exhibit excellent interpersonal skills and have the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with peers and adults.
- Social Responsibility: Students actively engage and contribute to their local and global communities, demonstrating empathy, respect, and a commitment to social justice.
- Informed Decision-making: Students make informed choices regarding their education, training, and future careers, based on an understanding of their own strengths, interests, and aspirations.
- Enhanced Character and Skills: Students exhibit leadership qualities, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and a growth mindset, resulting in improved academic performance and readiness for the world of work.
- Cultural Competence: Students embrace diversity, promoting equality, fairness, and challenging discrimination in all its forms.
Regular evaluations, feedback from students, staff, parents, and external stakeholders, as well as tracking and monitoring systems, are used to measure the impact of Personal Development provision. This ensures continuous improvement and adapting the provision to the changing needs of students.
