Personal Development

Personal Development at Halewood Academy is high on the agenda for all students and forms a pivotal part of their journey through school life. We recognise that the curriculum extends beyond the academic, technical or vocational routes. We recognise that the curriculum is the entirety of learning opportunities offered to students both inside and outside the classroom.

Our Personal Development intent is to create a carefully designed curriculum that is dynamic and responsive to the context surrounding our local community. We will ensure this is achieved through collaboration and informed through high quality research to ensure students experiences are impactful and meaningful. Through this we will ensure that the core values of Respect, Aspiration, Collaboration, Excellence and Resilience are developed and upheld so that students understand the wider world and their place within it. We are committed to enriching and widening their experiences so students are well placed to thrive in modern society.

Halewood Academy insists on a curriculum that removes any notion of disadvantage, encourages resilience, provides equity and equality of opportunity so that students are able to demonstrate independence and aspire towards their future. Through the Personal Development curriculum students will be assisted in becoming hard working, respectful, tolerant and compassionate citizens who are ready to make a difference.

The Personal Development curriculum will focus on the key areas with direct links to various statutory topics. The Personal Development curriculum is sequential, interleaved and progressive over a student’s life at Halewood Academy so they continually revisit areas whilst further developing the powerful knowledge associated with the topics. Halewood Academy students will explore the following areas:

• Relationships
• Health and Wellbeing
• Living in the Wider World
• Thriving in the Modern World
• Halewood Honours Programme

Our Personal Development is implemented through many broad, yet focused experiences:

The impact of our Personal Development curriculum is that students will have a broad range of opportunities to enable them to develop their individual talents and broader character. Students will be active global students with the skills, abilities and attributes to contribute positively to their community. There will be no barriers to participation in the Personal Development curriculum which will ensure parity and equity for all. We aim to educate students who will be responsible, respectful and active citizens who are able to play their part and become actively involved in public life as adults. We want our students to be alert to current affairs and be diligent in their appetite for challenge. Personal Development will broaden our students understanding of fundamental British values; democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance. Halewood Academy students will be encouraged to partake in opportunities such as Youth Parliament, Extra Curricular activity, Super Curricular activity, Experiential and Enrichment opportunities such as the Duke of Edinburgh.

Through Personal Development students will know that we can all thrive together and our students will gain thorough understanding that difference is a positive, not a negative, and that individual characteristics make people unique. Halewood Academy students will enjoy an inclusive environment and will strive to ensure that all members of the Halewood Academy community, irrespective of age, disability, gender, race, religion, belief, sex and sexual orientation feel welcomed and valued. Personal Development will equip our students with the abilities to recognise online and offline risks to their well-being and make them aware of the support available. We develop our students’ readiness for the next phase of education, training or employment so that Halewood Academy students are equipped to make their transition successful. This will be due to our effective careers programme which will offer all Halewood Academy students unbiased careers advice, work experience and an understanding of what they need to do to reach and succeed in the careers to which they aspire.

Personal Development will provide opportunities for educational trips to explore different parts of our curriculum. Personal Development will embed our Halewood Academy values so that our students are proficient in displaying RACER as a matter of daily habit. Halewood Academy students will be well prepared for the “tests of life”.

Personal Development lessons are taught fortnightly and the long term plan of lessons focuses on the following areas:

Should you request to discuss the resources prior to delivery for any element of the Personal Development Curriculum you should contact Mr G Harrisongharrison@halewoodacademy.co.uk

You should also note that within the policies section of the website the RSHE policy can be found.