Personal Development
At Parkside Academy we are proud of the Personal Development Programme that we have in place for all of our students.
The aim of our Personal Development Programme is to ensure that our students have the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to make good choices and to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active, responsible citizens.
Personal development is interwoven through the pastoral, academic and enrichment opportunities that we have in school and is underpinned by our character education principles of LORIC.
You can find out more about our character education here.
Intent
Developing responsible, respectful and active citizens who are able to play their part and become actively involved in public life as adults. We give students opportunities to find out more about an discuss the fundamental British values. We ensure our students know where to find help and support with their physical and mental health.
Enabling our students to recognise online and offline risks to their wellbeing and recognise the dangers of inappropriate use of technology.
Promoting equality of opportunity by ensuring equality by learning about protected characteristics and an inclusive environment for our students in all aspects of school life, including all of our enrichment opportunities.
Providing an effective careers programme from year 7 so our students are ready for the next phase of their education.
Supporting our students for their next steps, whether that be after year 11, from class to class, or moving into each year.
Implementation
Students are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of their school and the local community. In doing so they learn to recognise their own worth, work well with others and become increasingly responsible for their own learning. They reflect on their experiences and understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.
Students also find out about the main political and social institutions that affect their lives and about their responsibilities, rights and duties as individuals and members of communities. They learn to understand and respect our common humanity; diversity and differences so that they can go on to form the effective, fulfilling relationships that are an essential part of life and learning.
The aims of programme work alongside the Every Child Matters Agenda, Mental Health and Wellbeing, RSHE, SMSC development and Safeguarding.
Framework for the Personal Development Programme
The programme is delivered under four main areas:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Relationships
- Living in the Wider World
- Citizenship
Delivery of the Personal Development Programme
Opportunities for promoting pupils’ personal, social and emotional development exist throughout the curriculum and are also delivered in the following ways:
- PSHE Curriculum (Taught through our ASPIRE Programme)
- ASPIRE experiences
- Tutor Time Programme
- Cross-Curricular Links
- Enrichment opportunities – both co-curricular and extra curricular
- School Assemblies
- School Trips
- Guest Speakers
- Whole School and Subject Events and Activities
