Personal Development
About Us
Personal Development sits at the heart of the curriculum at Fernwood School, with importance placed upon dedicated weekly lessons delivered by a team of Personal Development teachers. It acts as a strong guiding vessel for delivering the schools’ curriculum aims; to develop successful learners, responsible citizens, and confident individuals. In Personal Development lessons pupils are likely to take part in discussions, hear from guest speakers, explore lots of scenarios, role play, challenge misconceptions and encounter lots of new information.
Specific Aims
The aims of the Personal Development curriculum are to encourage students to
- Become critical thinkers – Developing critical thinkers, readers, listeners who can make informed judgements and decisions for their life now and in the future.
- Become empathetic thinkers – encouraging them to respectfully acknowledge the views of others, to try to understand them and use them to challenge their own views.
- Become reflective – reflective in their approach to tasks, in relation to their opinions and towards the opinions of others. pupils are able to review and reflect –using this to inform, adapt positively/negatively, acknowledge themselves.
Quality Curriculum
Personal Development provides children with opportunities to explore who they are and how to care for themselves, to achieve positive relationships and how they can be successful contributing towards society, as such preparing them for the challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities of life ahead of them.
Pupils are enabled to do this through exploring three core themes: Health and Well-Being, Living in the Wider World and Relationships. We encourage children to think critically about any subject matter they are presented with, where it sits with their own developing personal values and to help them to empathise with the viewpoints of others. The PD classroom provides an important safe space for children to discuss sensitive topics, develop values, challenge opinion and learn where to get more support.
FAQs
What will I be studying in my PD lessons?
Your lessons will continue to be based around the broad themes of : Health and Well-being, Living in the Wider World and Relationships.
HALF-TERMLY PARENT GUIDES TO PD
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | Y7 Guide AT1 | Y7 Guide AT2 | Y7 Guide ST1 | Y7 Guide ST2 | Y7 Guide SU1 | Y7 Guide SU2 |
| Year 8 | Y8 Guide AT1 | Y8 Guide AT2 | Y8 Guide ST1 | Y8 Guide ST2 | Y8 Guide SU1 | Y8 Guide SU2 |
| Year 9 | Y9 Guide AT1 | Y9 Guide AT2 | Y9 Guide ST1 | Y9 Guide ST2 | Y9 Guide SU1 | Y9 Guide SU2 |
| Year 10 | Y10 Guide AT1 | Y10 Guide AT2 | Y10 Guide ST1 | Y10 Guide ST2 | Y10 Guide SU1 | Y10 Guide SU2 |
| Year 11 | Y11 Guide AT1 | Y11 Guide AT2 | Y11 Guide ST1 | Y11 Guide ST2 | Y11 Guide SU1 | Y11 Guide SU2 |
What have/are we up to in pD lessons this term?
Does PD continue in KS4?
Yes. Personal Development continues to play an important role in your education at KS4. Supporting you as you prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead of you.
All of you will have PD on your timetable, some of you depending on your Options Pathway may have two slots of PD. Your lessons will be delivered in mixed classes not as your tutor group.