Personal Development

At Pleckgate our Personal Development programme is designed to prepare each and every one of our pupils for a safe, healthy and successful adult life. We have broken down our curriculum into 4 key areas; Health and Wellbeing, Relationships, Living in the wider world and Citizenship. Here is a summary of the areas we cover in each of these themes below:

How is Personal Development taught?

 In order to give our pupils the best possible experiences, we deliver Personal Development in a number of ways: 

All pupils receive a weekly assembly linked to the PD programme. These assembly themes can be followed up and discussed within tutor time the next day to give pupils time to reflect on the content along with other members of their tutor group. They also receive a tutor session each week dedicated to one area of PD. Pupils spend time in tutor groups debating themes designed to be thought provoking and covering all aspects of PD. This is done through Votes for schools as well as Picture news. The end of each week means that pupils take part in a current events knowledge based quiz.

 Some other aspects of PD are taught through subjects so we can make use of teacher expertise. For example, the maths department teach elements of the finance education and Science teach some of our drugs education. In year’s 7 and 8, pupils also get dedicated Relationships and Sex education lessons. 

Pupils will also receive a regular PSHE lesson which is delivered by subject specialist. Additionally we also have Personal Development days across the year. These are generally delivered to specific year groups. We also welcome a whole range of guest speakers into school throughout the year to deliver talks and workshops on key areas of the PD programme in an engaging way.

We have built an excellent relationship with our local employers who come into school and deliver CEIAG advice to both KS3 and KS4 pupils. We also have regular visits from the local police, fire service and local charity organisations who support various aspects of our PD programme. 

As well as all of this, we are launching a Wellbeing showcase where we will invite various local organisations into school that are here to support the students’ social and mental wellbeing both now and when they leave school. Pupils will get the opportunity to talk face to face to these organisations and get a real understanding of how they can support them.

We send out a termly newsletter to parents and carers at the end of each term, this contains Personal Development updates to let them know what is happening in school.