Key Stage 3 Personal Development Curriculum Intent

Our core purpose is to deliver an engaging and challenging Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education curriculum through outstanding teaching and learning in the Personal Development Department. We aim to develop confident and responsible members of the school and wider community. 

As a school we feel very strongly about developing students as a whole person by allowing students to recognise and creating a deeper understanding of who they are and empowering them to make choices for their future and enriching their lives by maximising their opportunities to widen their cultural capital.  

Our high-quality personal development education provides students with an opportunity to develop a robust set of skills and attributes that will enable them to confidently face any challenges and opportunities, now and in a fast-changing future. Students are encouraged to develop their knowledge and understanding of the religions and beliefs which form part of contemporary society by building an understanding that our values are reflected in what we say and how we behave.

Lessons provoke challenging questions about the ultimate meaning and purpose of life, beliefs about God, the self and the nature of reality, issues of right and wrong, and what it means to be human. Students’ will gain a knowledge and understanding of Christianity, of other principal religions, other religious traditions and world views that offer answers to questions such as these. The personal development curriculum contributes to students’ well-being and to community cohesion by promoting mutual respect and tolerance in a diverse society. 

It is important the spiritual, moral, cultural, social, mental and physical development of students and of society prepares students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. Personal development education enables young people to be successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. It gives them the knowledge, skills and understanding to discern and value truth and goodness, strengthening their capacity for making moral judgement and for evaluating different types of commitment to make positive and healthy choices.  This builds resilience to anti-democratic or extremist narratives and enables students to build their sense of identity and belonging, which helps them flourish within their communities and as citizens in a diverse society. It also teaches students to develop a respect for others, including people with different faiths and beliefs, and helps to challenge prejudice, prompts students to consider their responsibilities to themselves and to others, and to explore how they might contribute to their communities and to wider society. It encourages empathy, generosity and compassion, ensuring that students’ foster a keen awareness and understanding of democracy, government and how laws are made and upheld. The teaching of personal development equips students with the skills and knowledge to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, debate and make reasoned arguments. 

Key Stage 3 - Personal Development Overview