Stemming from our CORE vision that we “believe in the power of education to inspire, to enable, and to enrich every life” our Personal Development curriculum intent is to develop every member of our school community as a well-rounded individual. We recognise the importance of Personal Development Education as a planned, developmental programme that equips all students with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to manage their lives now and in the future. Our comprehensive approach focuses on preparing students for life in modern Britain, developing their social, moral, spiritual, and cultural understanding, whilst also fostering personal responsibility and well-being.
Our Personal Development curriculum develops in all students the capacity to make sound decisions when facing risks and challenges. At Rockwood Academy, our approach is built around a series of core themes including; Relationships, Health and Wellbeing, Families, Health and Safety, Careers and a series of wider Safeguarding topics. Across these core themes, key priorities have been identified, stemming from student and parent voice, pastoral and safeguarding patterns and trends relating to the local and national context.
Our Personal Development programme is not just confined to a discrete area of study; it is embedded throughout our whole-school approach. We aim to empower every student to thrive as an individual, a family member, and a proactive, respectful member of society. Through a cohesive and purposeful curriculum, we enable all students to flourish academically, emotionally, and socially, preparing them to face the future with confidence and integrity.
Our Personal Development provision includes:
Form Time Activities: Structured sessions that focus on character education, national themes, building resilience, and promoting mental health and well-being as well as a clear link to personal development such as Attendance and Progress.
Collapsed Opportunity Days/ Taster sessions: Immersive days/sessions (such as assemblies that are extended) that allow students to engage in deep learning experiences focused on key personal, social, and employability skills as part of careers education.
Targeted Workshops: Tailored interventions addressing specific needs, such as careers guidance, emotional well-being, and personal safety.
Theme of the Week: Weekly themes that highlight essential British values, global issues, and personal growth topics, reinforced across the school.
Weekly Themed Assemblies: Whole-school assemblies that explore personal development themes, encouraging reflection and a sense of collective responsibility as well as explicit link to KCSIE.
Cross-curricular Links: Ensuring Personal Development is embedded across subjects, linking life skills, social responsibility, and real-world application within academic study.
Individual Mentoring & Support Sessions: Providing one-on-one mentoring and pastoral support to address personal challenges (where appropriate) and promote well-being through our inclusive and accessible school improvement plan. Our stages of intervention reflect a comprehensive analysis of where a student may require this type of intervention/support.
British Values/SMSC
Within the Fundamental British Values aspect of the curriculum pupils are able to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England as well as accepting responsibility for their behaviour, showing initiative, and understanding how they can contribute positively to the lives of those living and working in the locality of the school and to wider society. Each week we draw attention to three themes that shape the week ahead and creates the ethos at the Academy. These themes are the CORE value of the week, The British Value of the week and the Character Competency (explicitly linked to core values) that has a special focus in the week ahead. Form Tutors and assembly leaders are responsible for implementing the programme and re-enforcing the three themes. Our Assembly programme is equally aligned to the development of the three core themes. Each Monday our staff briefing is dedicated to the Personal Development of students to ensure the culture and tone is set for the week ahead. Our Rockwood news PowerPoint highlights all the above on a weekly basis and is advertised on all our screens around the Academy.
We embrace the following strands integral to Fundamental British Values:
Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
Mutual respect
Tolerance
The RE curriculum also aims to inspire students to become well rounded and informed citizens who think critically about the world around them and has specific links to the development of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of students (SMSC). Curriculum leaders including RE have mapped out the SMSC links found within each curriculum as part of their medium and long-term planning.
Assessment within the Personal Development Curriculum:
At Rockwood Academy we recognise that it is our fundamental responsibility to teach students how to build their confidence and resilience, through the Personal Development curriculum and opportunities for growth. We play a crucial role in preparing our students for their adult lives, teaching them to understand how to engage with society and providing them with plentiful opportunities to do so. Within our Personal Development curriculum (all aspects) we recognise that assessment of key concepts both formative and summative is only one part of the holistic tracking of our students Personal Development. We do, however, assess students’ capabilities and ability to know more, remember more and do more through questioning, discussion, collaboration, assertive monitoring as well as providing students reflection time after each key topic. We undertake summative assessment that help us to understand the level of knowledge and understanding students have gained. These assessments will enable us to understand if students can remember key Personal Development topics. Our Assessment criteria for knowledge growth and understanding is below.
At Key Stage Three and Four there are two dates at which we will inform parents and students of the level they have achieved. These levels are as follows:
Novice
Developing
Secure
Extending
When reporting to parents we also provide an attitude to learning within Personal Development. This is an important aspect of assessment at it allows parents to gain understanding of their child’s application in some challenging topics related the curriculum area.