Subjects menu
Personal Development Curriculum Intent Statement
"What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
Tiverton High School aims to provide an outstanding education, which enriches and develops students’ ambition and love of learning. The curriculum intends to equip all students with the skills, knowledge, understanding and cultural capital they need to access aspirational post-16 pathways, as well as the responsibilities and experiences of later life. Our PSHE curriculum is embedded in their personal development weekly lessons. These lessons aims are to under pin our school values and ethos. Our students are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth and becoming positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.
The intent of our PSHE curriculum is to deliver a curriculum which is accessible to all and that will maximise the outcomes for every child so that they are exposed to topics so they know more and understand more so they can continue to learn empathy and acceptance.
Intention to fulfil our requirements as a school
We are using and adapting the Jigsaw scheme of learning and resources. This provides a programme which offers us a comprehensive, carefully thought-through Scheme of Work bringing consistency and progression to our students’ learning in this vital curriculum area. However this continues to be significantly enhanced, updated and modified to take into account our learners, demographic and response to needs as they arise. Personal development teaches learners to be respectful while learning about RSE, Healthy living and Living in the wider world and British Values whilst also cover personal, social health and economic aspects with World studies being delivered from Y9 so students are being taught the Devon Agreed Syllabus. This also supports the “Personal Development” and “Behaviour and Attitude” aspects required under the Ofsted Inspection Framework, as well as significantly contributing to the school’s Safeguarding and Equality Duties, the Government’s British Values agenda and the SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural) development opportunities provided for our young people. We deliver this in a range of ways, through lessons, assemblies and development days where we regularly bring outside experts to not only deliver excellent content in an inspirational way but also used as a training opportunity for all of our staff.
Intention to communicate with all our stake holders
The overview of the programme can be seen on the school website. This is also sent out to parents and carers at the beginning of the academic year along with the program for develop days which complement the Jigsaw PSHE program. Parents have the right to withdraw students in line with our policy, which can also be found on the school website.
Intention to create engaging and clear resources which support teachers and learners
The Jigsaw Programme covers all areas of PSHE for the secondary phase including statutory RSE and Health Education. The table below gives the learning theme of each of the six units and these are taught across the school; the learning deepens and broadens every year through a spiralling curriculum. Students have also given feedback and we have made changes in light of this to help engage students in this important subject, as well as other events which happen throughout the year such as Options and Exam Preparation which enhances students’ personal development of careers and to enable us to continue to be 100% in all 8 Gatsby benchmarks.
| Area of study | Content |
|---|---|
|
Being Me in My World (Living in the wider world, World Studies) |
Includes understanding their own identity and how students fit well in the class, school and global community. |
|
Celebrating Difference
(World Studies) |
Includes anti-bullying (cyber and homophobic bullying included) and understanding difference, Equality Act and protected characteristics. In KS 4 we also address this topic in World studies. |
|
Dreams and Goals
(Careers) |
Includes goal-setting, aspirations, who do they want to become and what would they like to do for work and to contribute to society. This has been developed by THS staff to fulfil the 8 Gatsby Benchmarks with links to employers, colleges, ITP and HE. |
|
Healthy Me (Health Education, RSE) |
Includes drugs and alcohol education, self-esteem and confidence as well as healthy lifestyle choices, sleep, nutrition, rest and exercise, mental health. |
|
Relationships (RSE) |
Includes understanding friendship, family, intimate relationships and other relationships, conflict resolution and communication skills, bereavement and loss. Includes Relationships and Sex Education. |
|
Changing Me (Health Education, RSE) |
Includes Relationships and Sex Education in the context of coping positively with change. |
Intention to make PD accessible to all students
The resources are planned to make all students think and see all side to an issue. These resources are scaffolded for teachers so all students have the ability to access this curriculum. All students engage in the program through tutor groups and in Development Days, with more sensitive subjects being delivered by specialists. Tutors know their tutees best and we believe they are the best staff to deliver it. Training is on hand for staff who need that extra support for more difficult areas.
Intention to support all stakeholders with Mental Wellbeing
We are proud of our Mental health focus which has been embedded throughout all years. We have Mental Health ambassadors, a councillor, and our 5 ways to well-being is woven into our personal development curriculum.
Intention to raise awareness of differences in views and beliefs
World studies, as part of the Personal Development program enables students who have not opted for Religion and philosophy GCSE, enables students to embed the Devon Agreed Syllabus. The three topics, My inside World, My outside world, my future world span from year 9 to Spring in Y11. We plan these lessons so they are in line with world events to bring a national and global perspective to the topics. Also our LGBT+ support and clubs are a well-supported area of our school with dedicated staff and resources put in place to help students except everyone.
Along with the content which is being delivered we also want to give students the skills and confidence to present their ideas, and opinions and work collaboratively, but also give them the humility that some opinions will differ to their own and that is okay.
Intention that PD provides a safe place to explore and to learn
As a result of this they will become healthy, independent and responsible members of a society who understand how they are developing personally and socially, and give them confidence to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. We provide our children with opportunities for them to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. We strive to create a classroom environment where students feel safe to talk about these key areas of the curriculum and so they can ask questions.
Intention of assessment and a record of the learners journey
All students will work in books which will accompany them throughout their 5 years at THS so there is a record of their learning and opinions and how this changes over time. It will also give students the opportunity to record their career intentions which supports the Gatsby benchmark 3. All students will have an assessment at the end of each unit evaluating their knowledge and thoughts. These assessment will be RAGged by staff. The Do Now tasks embedded in their SOL will also enable staff to assess the students’ progress during each topic.
Learning Journey
Please download documents using the links below.