Personal Development

Academy@Worden, in partnership with parents and carers, has a vital role in preparing children and young people to negotiate the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly complex world. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. Personal Development at Worden deals with real-life issues affecting our children, families and communities. It’s concerned with the social, health and economic realities of their lives, experiences and attitudes including relationships. It supports pupils to be healthy (mentally and physically), safe (online and offline) and equipped to thrive in their relationships and careers.

Parents’ and carers’ support is important to the success of Personal Development at Worden. Pupils are encouraged to talk about all aspects of Personal Development covered at school with parents and carers.
 
Personal Development is important because it:
•    contributes to physical and mental health and wellbeing, encouraging individual responsibility for health
•    contributes to the safety and protection of our children and young people, from staying safe online to understanding risks associated with drugs and alcohol and knowing the law surrounding these topics
•    contributes to the information young people need to help them develop healthy, nurturing relationships of all kinds, not just intimate relationships, and know boundaries within the law
•    promotes independence, resilience and responsibility – preparing children and young people for future roles as parents, employees and leaders
•    supports employability by developing the personal and social skills demanded by commerce and industry
•    supports pupils to be critical consumers of information, and develops the skills to identify misleading news or views on social media and elsewhere
 
Personal Development covers the following areas:
•    Fundamental British Values and Citizenship education
•    Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural education
•    Personal, Social, Health and Economic and Sex and Relationship Education
•    Careers and Living in the Wider World education
 
All of our pupils are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of the school and the wider community. In doing so, pupils learn to recognise their own worth, develop a sense of their own identity and the ability to take their place in the community as well as respect for, and working with, others.
 
 
Personal Development is delivered in a number of ways. These include:
•    Personal Development education is also cross curricular with all curriculum areas contributing in a variety of ways and delivered through subject schemes of learning. Please find our curriculum overview here. 
•    Assemblies, which are built around themes and take place every other week according to our calendar
•    Pupils receive additional PSHE drop down day over the year to support the PSHE curriculum
•    There is a range of co-curricular activities at Worden, including Paris Trip, PGL trips, School Council visits to Houses of Parliament etc.
•    We have a tradition of trips, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Intu Trafford Centre, Reel Cinema and Ten Pin Bowling.
•    These trips introduce our pupils to a wide and varied experience. We have a very healthy co-curricular sports programme and the Performing Arts Department attract sell-out crowds for their drama performances throughout the year which allow pupils to develop a rich cultural capital.
•    We have a variety of charity initiatives, offering ways for the school community to think beyond themselves and serve other people locally and across the world. Examples include supporting our local foodbank, providing much needed food and supplies, plus a Christmas shoebox appeal to share love and hope to children in need. Supporting our local charities such as St Catherine’s and Derian House through Santa Dodge and Cake sales.
•    Our PSHE Days are an opportunity to work with the local community, Lancashire Police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue and local charities, as well as enhance and enrich our curriculum by inviting visiting speakers into school.
Pupils are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and to recognise how they are developing personally and socially, addressing the spiritual, social, moral and cultural and health issues that form an intrinsic part of growing up.

Personal Development Education equips students with the knowledge, skills and attributes that they need to make informed decisions about their learning and work through a cohesive programme of careers education. They are supported in their journey with access to personalised information, advice and guidance from Sixth Form colleges and apprenticeship providers which will enable them to build up the confidence to take charge of their career development and effectively manage their own progression through learning and work. They also have opportunities to consider and prepare for a variety of employment options, for example, through work experience, mock interviews and a range of enrichment activities.