Personal Development

The personal development curriculum is underpinned by the ethos and values of The Priory Belvoir Academy and we uphold it as an entitlement for all our students.  We recognise the need to work with parents and carers to ensure a shared understanding of personal development and to deliver an effective and personalised programme that meets the needs of our students.   Like other subjects, discrete personal development lessons gradually build key concepts and skills through topics that are relevant to the student’s age and stage of development. PD covers a wide range of topics and curriculum areas based on the following strands:

• Relationships and Sex Education (statutory RSHE)
• Staying Safe Online/Offline
• British Values, Equality & Diversity and Citizenship
• Careers – Next Steps
• Health & Wellbeing

Delivery

• Lessons Character Development and PD delivered during tutor time (8.40am-9.05am)
• Assemblies delivered in Year groups (8.40-9.05am)
• Drop Down Days - a full day off timetable where students spend the day focusing on specific areas of PD pertinent to each year group. These include multi-agency days when multiple external agencies are invited in to deliver sessions (minimum 1 per year group)
• External speakers – specialists are regularly invited to speak with our students on topics such as drug and alcohol awareness, contraception and Higher Education 
• Curriculum – We work collaboratively with curriculum leaders so that the PD curriculum enhances the learning and skills developed in subject areas. 

PSHCE

The Department for Education introduced compulsory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) for secondary students.

As part of this, all schools are required to consult with parents, students and staff when developing and reviewing their policies for Relationships and Sex Education, which will inform decisions on when and how certain content is covered.

Effective engagement gives the space and time for parents to input, ask questions, share concerns and for the academy to decide the way forward. We will listen to these views, and then make a reasonable decision as to how and when the content is delivered. When and how content is taught is ultimately a decision for the academy, and consultation does not provide a parental veto on curriculum content.

You can find further details about the introduction of compulsory relationships education, as well as answers to many other frequently asked questions, on the government website.

For further information regarding RSE (Relationship Sex Education) and Personal Development please contact Mr JK Miller jmiller@prioryacademies.co.uk