Personal Development

Personal Development Intent

At Larches High School, Personal Development is embedded into daily life and across all curriculum areas. The Personal Development Curriculum delivers a holistic ethos that meets the schools aims of Improved Opportunities, Improved Relationships and Improved Life Chances.

In our school, Personal Development education is inclusive and supports all our pupils to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. It aims to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) issues that are part of modern life. We provide our students with opportunities for them to learn about British Values and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society. Our pupils are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.

All students receive timetabled Personal Development lessons through a structured PSHE curriculum. These cover the statutory content expected within the PSHE/RSE guidelines (please refer to the PSHE curriculum intent below).  Personal Development content is also embedded through a whole school approach and we utilise form time to deliver key awareness days throughout the year. Our curriculum and focused form time activities are tailored ensure our pupils are prepared for life after Larches High School as a well-rounded citizen in a forever changing society.

At Larches High School, we seek to use Personal Development education to build on the national school curriculum including statutory elements on: drug education, financial education, relationship and sex education (RSE) and the importance of physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle. Our curriculum also incorporates religious beliefs through form time activities.

In our school, we have an extensive and dedicated Pastoral Team who work closely with parents/ carers and students. Our Pastoral Team consists of: Family Support, Intervention Team and Behaviour Support. Together they target students and their families with their wellbeing needs and concerns. Staff also work closely with external organisations to provide bespoke support for individuals requiring it. This includes working closely with Children’s Social Care, Child and Family Wellbeing and Operation Encompass.  These teams collaborate effectively to ensure our students are targeted through structured interventions such as: Butterfly, Phoenix, Men at Work, EBSA and ELSA.

We believe at Larches High School that Personal Development plays a vital role in secondary education and it is given a high priority. Our school’s values of Trust, Empower, Responsibility, Respect, Empathy and Individuality are the pillars of our school culture and are embedded into everyday life here at Larches.