Personal Development
At St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Primary School, we are proud to support all children to develop social awareness; strength of character; acceptance of others; and academic confidence. Personal Development is woven through all we do. It is reflected in our school mission of Succeeding Together in Faith and Love and in our school values. Through every interaction; every lesson; every event; every assembly.
Our primary aim is to prepare children for the wider world so that they can have a strong sense of purpose and belonging, and to make their way in the world so that they have the confidence to make their voices heard. In doing this we will teach children how to navigate through life safely, happily and healthily. We recognise that children are growing up in a world that is constantly changing and it is the duty of all the staff at school, in partnership with the parents/carers, to teach children transferable life skills. We teach children about the world around them, relationships, emotions, reproduction and health, as well as exchangeable skills to help with life. We consistently promote the British values and our school values.
Personal Development Curriculum
Personal Development is woven into all aspects of school life at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Primary and we pride ourselves on providing an environment for all pupils to thrive and mature into well-informed young adults. Our RSHE curriculum underpins this aim in the context of three core themes: relationships, physical health & mental wellbeing and living in the wider world (including economic wellbeing and careers education).
We aim to embrace the many talents and interests of our pupils and offer a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities, which are selected based on pupil voice and regular school council meetings.
We want our learners to feel empowered with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage life’s challenges and make the most of life’s opportunities. We aim to give our learners the knowledge and tools they need to understand how to take care of themselves, physically and mentally, and how they can stay safe and thrive in an ever-changing world.
How do we teach personal development in school?
St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Primary School teaches personal development in a wide range of ways throughout the children’s school lives. For example:
- it is taught in discrete lessons (RSHE);
- through Journey in Love;
- using No Outsiders books;
- it is taught with cross-curricular links in other lessons, such as English, physical education and religious education;
- staff members consistently model how to be a good citizen who uphold the school values;
- assemblies (whole school, celebration and special visitors);
- staff delivery to learn basic first aid;
- specialist staff working with individuals and groups;
- e-Safety lessons in computing and assembly;
- celebrating positive learning attributes with weekly certificates;
- huge array of extra-curricular school clubs;
- well thought through transitions throughout the school and beyond;
- focusing on mental and physical health;
- School Council;
- Green Knights;
- Buddies;
- Worship Warriors;
- celebrating different faiths, languages, cultures and religions;
- outdoor activity trips.