Why do we study Personal Development?
At St Winefride’s, our curriculum has a clear purpose and we have embedded our school values: Common Good, Honesty, Courage, Love, Compassion; and our Mission Statement: Together as one family, together in friendship, together in learning, together in Christ.
As a school, it is our belief that pupils’ personal and social development underpins all other learning as it helps pupils to build their character, confidence, self-esteem and their development in their relationship with God. Developing self-understanding, empathy and the ability to work with others helps our pupils to enjoy healthy and productive relationships in all aspects of their lives.
How do we deliver our Personal Development Aims?
Trips and Experiences
Our intention is to provide all of our children with a wide range of rich activities, trips and visits which provide meaningful context to their learning, and which enhance and enrich their school experience. Year 6 have the opportunity to take part in a residential trip.
Cultural Diversity and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
As part of whole school ethos, we teach and encourage our pupils to show respect for different faiths and cultures and to show respect for the different protected characteristics. We help our pupils to recognise the difference between right and wrong and we help children to investigate and offer reasoned views about moral and ethical issues.
Through our whole school and class acts of worship, we actively promote equality of opportunity and diversity allowing all children to thrive together. At St Winefride’s, we ensure that children understand that difference is a positive and that our individual characteristics make everyone unique.
Personal Development Themes
Every half term, we have a different Personal Development theme which enables us to cover the Protected Characteristics. Lessons are taught in each year group in an age-appropriate way.
British Values
Through our acts of worship, our Personal Development themes and our RHSE lessons we teach our pupils about the British Values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.
Every week, we share the ‘Picture News’ with children in key stage liturgies, using the excellent online resources and images.
We also share Picture News with families via our school Facebook page and ClassDojo, which allows families to further discuss the weekly topics at home.
Picture News is instrumental in delivering much of the work we do in school on British Values. It supports our children in encountering and considering the key issues of the day in a planned and age-appropriate way. It also supports their developing understanding of Protected Characteristics and the UN Rights of the Child.
