Personal Development
Our years spent at school are the most informative and character shaping years of our lives. It is when we start to reflect upon who we are and who we want to be: it is a time of personal development. Personal development is the curriculum that extends beyond the academic curriculum and supports young people to develop their characters to have the confidence to take opportunities and aspire to excellence in whatever they are doing and wherever they are doing it. Personal development is the aspect of school life that equips students with the characteristics they need to flourish and succeed in the twenty first century.
Personal Development opportunities are threaded throughout the curriculum and are built upon the foundations of the British values of respect, tolerance, democracy and the rule of law. This is further supported by discrete:
- Careers education
- Education about relationships and sexual relationships
- Personal, Social and Health Education
- Character education curriculum
- Extra-curricular opportunities
Please click on the down arrows to find out more about the areas covered as part of the personal development programme
PSHE
Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is a planned programme of learning opportunities and experiences that help children and young people grow and develop as individuals, as members of families and within their wider communities.
PSHE Curriculum Intent
We have discrete, timetabled PSHE lessons that are delivered for one hour every second week. We are a team dedicated to addressing the changes that young people experience, beginning with the transition to secondary school, the challenges of adolescence and young people's increasing independence. We also committed to supporting students to aspire and achieve their full academic potential, so that they leave the school, equipped with skills they will need in later life: we aim to prepare students for the challenges and responsibilities they may face into young adulthood when it is necessary to take greater responsibility for themselves as they become more independent.
Our PSHE curriculum is a spiral curriculum that covers three key areas:
1) Living in the wider world - Pupils will develop knowledge, skills, and attributes they need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. From making responsible decisions about career choices, leadership skills, to succeeding in their first job, pay slips, CV’s and college applications, this area of PSHE intent is to aid pupils to manage many of the most critical opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities, they will face growing up.
2) Health and wellbeing – Pupils will achieve their full potential mentally and physically by tackling issues such as puberty, diet, sleep, vaping, gangs, and mental health. These are crucial to navigating the challenges and opportunities of the modern world.
3) RSE - The focus of sex and relationships education will be to equip children and young people to make safe choices, navigate the online world with a critical eye and help them to understand where to go for support. Lessons have been deemed as age appropriate by the PSHE association and created alongside guidance from the PSHE Association and the Brook Advisory Service. These include healthy relationships, consent, contraception, LGBTQ+, families, STI’S / STD’s, emotional, sexual, and physical abuse.
Please click on the link below if you require further information: clairepawalczek@highfield.herts.sch.uk
FAQs
Can I withdraw my child from PSHE?
Parents/carers have the right to withdraw students from all or part of the PSHE programme. Such a request needs to be made in writing to the Headteacher.
