Personal Development lessons make a unique and substantial contribution towards the aims and ethos of Greenacre Academy in its core belief that the development of young people is essential to their health and wellbeing, safety and achievements as individuals within society. In addition to this we believe that each individual has the right to feel respected, safe, secure and to learn without disruption which all teachers within the department enforce within their lessons. These lessons are given discrete time within the school timetable, students at key stage three are given three hour sessions of Personal Development per two weeks, key stage four receive one hour a fortnight and key stage five receive thirty minutes in form time each morning. Personal Development teachers deliver the Personal Development Curriculum and where possible they are supported from professionals. Here at Greenacre we also believe in developing soft skills and the cultural capital of our students, so we have carefully aligned our Personal Development Curriculum against the Gatsby and PSHE Association benchmarks and the ‘Personal Development’ requirements of the Ofsted Framework.
In addition to covering PSHE and careers topics, Personal Development lessons also aim to challenge students with questions about belief, values, meaning, purpose and truth, enabling them to develop their own attitudes towards religious issues. They will also gain an appreciation of how religion, philosophy and ethics form the basis of our culture, will develop analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to work with abstract ideas, leadership and research skills. All these skills will help prepare them for further study. Each taught unit is planned in line with the needs and requirements of the modern student in mind, carefully picking topics designed to be purposeful and measurable for that particular year group.
Here at Greenacre Academy we adhere to the new 2020 Government guidelines in regards to sex and relationship education within our Personal Development sessions. SRE lessons are set within the wider context of the Personal Development curriculum and focus more on the emotional aspects of development and relationships, although the physical aspects of puberty and reproduction are also included. Any SRE lesson may consider questions or issues that some students will find sensitive therefore before embarking on these lessons ground rules are established which prohibit inappropriate personal information being requested or disclosed by those taking part in the lesson.
Throughout their time here at Greenacre your child will cover the following:
- The knowledge, skills and attitudes to make healthy choices and manage risk;
- The ability to form and manage supportive and stable relationships;
- The capacity to develop awareness of themselves as learners and managers of change;
- The capacity to recognise and celebrate diversity and difference;
- The opportunity to participate actively and responsibly in their schools and their communities;
- The understanding of how society works and the rights and responsibilities of being a citizen;
- The ability to anticipate the demands and challenges of adult life, including the world of work and leisure opportunities;
- The opportunity to demonstrate their creativity, enterprise and economic well-being.
- The importance of a healthy, active lifestyle
- The potential dangers of substance abuse and misuse
- The importance of first aid and basic training
- The ability to recognise poor mental health both in themselves and others, the tools in which to help support with these issues and the knowledge of where to go for help.
- The ability to demonstrate tolerance and understand different cultural and religious attitudes to everyday issues.