At Abbot’s Lea School, we recognise that the whole student is developed when a strong, subject-specific curriculum is meaningfully interconnected with a carefully planned and purposeful Personal Development Curriculum. For our students, personal development is not an additional element of school life; it is woven throughout their experiences, relationships and learning. Through strong sequential planning, students are supported to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and independence they need to navigate the world around them.
Our Personal Development Curriculum supports students to develop their understanding of themselves, their relationships with others and their place within their wider community. We promote the fundamental British values of Democracy, Individual Liberty, the Rule of Law, Mutual Respect and Tolerance, while ensuring that these concepts are accessible and meaningful for our students.
We recognise that our students require a Personal Development Curriculum that reflects who they are, the barriers they may experience and the skills they need for their future. Our offer is therefore carefully adapted to ensure that all students can participate, communicate their views, develop self-advocacy and experience success. Through structured teaching, discussion, enrichment, practical experiences and opportunities to make meaningful choices, students are encouraged to develop their confidence, interests, talents and sense of belonging.
Our Personal Development offer brings together a range of complementary programmes, experiences and opportunities, including Pol-Ed, the ALS Behaviour Curriculum, Votes for Schools, My Happy Mind and our extensive enrichment programme. Together, these provide students with opportunities to develop their emotional wellbeing, relationships, communication, self-awareness, resilience, independence, decision-making and understanding of the wider world.
Votes for Schools provides opportunities for students to explore current issues, share their views, listen to different perspectives and develop confidence in expressing themselves. My Happy Mind supports students to develop their understanding of themselves, their emotions, relationships and wellbeing. Our ALS Behaviour Curriculum develops self-awareness, emotional regulation, positive relationships, self-esteem, belonging and an understanding of why behaviour happens. Pol-Ed provides progressive learning around relationships, keeping safe, understanding the law and wellbeing. Our enrichment opportunities then provide valuable contexts in which students can practise and generalise these skills through clubs, activities and wider experiences.
We do not believe that a one-size-fits-all, off-the-shelf approach can meet the personal development needs of our students. Instead, our curriculum has been designed around the community we serve and the diverse and increasingly complex needs of our students. It provides meaningful opportunities for students to learn about themselves, understand others, make informed choices, develop their voice and participate as fully as possible in their communities.
Our Personal Development offer is structured around three interconnected areas which run from EYFS through to KS5:
- Understanding Myself
Developing self-awareness, emotional wellbeing, self-esteem, resilience, identity, communication, self-regulation and an understanding of individual strengths and needs. This includes our ALS Behaviour Curriculum and My Happy Mind offer.
- Understanding Others and the World Around Me
Developing relationships, empathy, respect, communication, understanding of different perspectives, keeping safe, understanding the law and developing students’ voices. This includes Pol-Ed and Votes for Schools.
- Experiencing, Participating and Preparing for My Future
Providing opportunities to develop independence, interests, talents, confidence, teamwork and practical life skills through enrichment, clubs, wider experiences and preparation for adulthood.
Together, these areas create a rich, coherent and highly personalised Personal Development offer, ensuring that students are not only prepared to access their academic curriculum, but are supported to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and self-belief they need to thrive as valued, active and increasingly independent members of society.
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