Personal Development at Dene

‘Fostering a sense of belonging and Community’

At Dene Academy, we are proud of the Personal Development Programme that we have in place for all of our students. The aim of our Personal Development Programme is to ensure that our students have the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to make good choices and to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active, responsible citizens.  Personal development is interwoven through the pastoral, academic and enrichment opportunities that we have in school and is underpinned by our character education opportunities and our school values.

We are a highly inclusive environment. We believe that all of our students should be active participants in their own character development. The personal development of our students is a priority we take seriously and the implementation of the programme through, lessons, assemblies, tutor activities, extra-curricular activities, enrichment events and whole school personal development themed weeks, gives every child the opportunity to gain an understanding of their own character and their place in the wider world. Equality of opportunity allows our students to thrive together and understand that difference is a positive and individual characteristics make people unique.

Our overarching aims are to:

• Ensure students feel a sense of belonging and part of our school community 
• To ensure that our students are equipped to meet the challenges of life outside and beyond school, by making positive and informed choices that will enable them to live happy and fulfilled lives, by developing responsible, respectful and active citizens
• Be an integral part of the lifelong learning process, and to be incorporated into all lessons and school activities
• Encourage students and teachers to share and respect each other’s views
• Recognise that the wider community has much to offer and we aim to work in partnership with local stakeholders to ensure the needs of our students and    community are met
• To extend and enhance our curriculum beyond the academic, supporting our students to develop in many different aspects of life by helping them identify their skills to develop their experience and knowledge
• To develop and deepen pupils’ understanding of the fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance
• To promote equality so that all pupils can thrive together in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of all pupils, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation
• Developing pupils’ character, through the 5 school values, so that they reflect wisely, learn eagerly, behave with integrity and cooperate consistently well with others
• To support pupils for the next phase of education, training or employment so that pupils are equipped to make the transition successfully

Implementation

Students are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of their school and the local community. In doing so they learn to recognise their own worth, work well with others and become increasingly responsible for their own learning. They reflect on their experiences and understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.  Students also find out about the main political and social institutions that affect their lives and about their responsibilities, rights and duties as individuals and members of communities. They learn to understand and respect our common humanity; diversity and differences so that they can go on to form the effective, fulfilling relationships that are an essential part of life and learning. 

The aims of programme work alongside Every Child Matters Agenda, Mental Health and Wellbeing, RSHE, SMSC development and Safeguarding. 

Framework for the Personal Development Programme 

The programme is delivered under four main areas: 

Health and Wellbeing
Relationships
Living in the Wider World 
Citizenship 

Delivery of the Personal Development Programme 

Opportunities for promoting pupils’ personal, social and emotional development exist throughout the curriculum and are also delivered in the following ways: 

• PSHE /RSHE Curriculum  
• Tutor Time Programme  
• Cross-Curricular Links 
• Enrichment opportunities – both co-curricular and extra-curricular
• School Assemblies 
• School Trips 
• Guest Speakers 
• Whole School and Subject Events and Activities