Personal Development

Intent 

The intent of our Personal Development curriculum is to deliver meaningful opportunities for all our students to equip them with the values, knowledge, and skills to ensure they develop into resilient, confident, and independent young people.  At Gildredge House School, Personal Development education is inclusive and accessible, enabling all our children to become healthy and responsible members of society. We believe that Personal Development plays a vital part in education and as well as discrete focused lessons, it is also embedded throughout the curriculum and school ethos: 

Aspire – in all that we do 

We aim to provide students with a myriad of opportunities and experiences across all phases of the school outside of the taught curriculum. Personal Development is integral to the development of our student values, which will guide our community into being open-minded global citizens in a forever-changing world. 

Implementation 

We believe that we have designed a robust Personal Development curriculum at Gildredge House that is underpinned by our ethos and values. Our programme is implemented through the curriculum during tutor periods, Careers & Community (PSHE), Philosophy, Religion & Ethics and an extensive extra-curricular offer. Outside of the curriculum, we embrace Personal Development through service learning, Duke of Edinburgh, student leadership, trips and external speakers. Our extensive careers programme is embedded in our throughlines curriculum and is led by our Careers Advisor. The careers curriculum includes drop-down days, Work Experience, career themed days and a wealth of employment partners that support the school. These experiences encourage students to aspire and value lifelong learning and develop key employability and enterprise skills in accordance with the recommended Gatsby Benchmarks. Finally, we are proud to provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about Fundamental British Values and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. The Personal Development curriculum helps students understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. Our children are always encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community. 

Impact 

By the end of our student's journey they will have developed the following skills: 

• Students will demonstrate and apply the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual respect, Rule of law and Liberty 
• Students will be prepared spiritually, morally, socially and culturally (SMSC) by looking after themselves and each other driven through our ASPIRE values: 

Ambition 
Support 
Perseverance 
Integrity 
Reflection 
Empathy 

• Students will have an understanding of relationships, friendships and how to communicate with people 
• Students will demonstrate a healthy outlook towards school which will help with attendance and behaviour 
• Students will build emotional resiliency and become responsible members of society 
• Students will be on their journey preparing them for life and work in modern Britain. 
• Students will be able to use their learning throughout the other subjects and general life experiences 

 Students do not complete data captures in personal development however progress is assessed throughout.