Personal Development
"Leaders and staff make sure that pupils are able to develop resilience and ability to keep themselves safe." Ofsted 2021
At West Kirby School and College we not only aim to be “Changing Children’s lives”, but give children the confidence, resilience and tools to change 'their own' lives and engage with society. This emphasis on empowerment and pupils taking responsibility for their own actions, choices and development is a key focus of the Pastoral Curriculum and reflects our School Values.
Our School Values support the development of our pupils' characters, our School Values inform pupil's motivation and guides their behaviour, so they can learn and reflect, demonstrating integrity and cooperation consistently in everything they do.
Our Pastoral Curriculum underpins the personal development of our pupils. It is creative, enriching and embedded throughout the school in everything we do. This is demonstrated by our commitment to Our Pledges.
The Pastoral Curriculum provides pupils with a rich range of accessible Personal Development opportunities which:
Develops responsible, respectful and active citizens
- Clear expectations in place with rewards and natural consequences.
- Going for Gold reward system which motivates and encourages pupils to not only follow expectations, but exceed expectations.
- Pupil Voice
- Opportunities to engage with the local community and environment– such as litter picking on the beach.
- Promotion of responsible behaviour such as recycling, conservation and charity.
- Opportunities to engage with charitable organisations and events – such as supporting local food banks.
- Initiatives in place by the anti-bullying co-ordinator to promote positive behaviour and challenge negative actions.
- Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
- Team building activities during lunchtime activities, after-school clubs and Wellbeing afternoons.
Develops and deepens understanding of fundamental British values
- Regular school assemblies focussing on British Values.
- Posters and displays around school highlighting British Values.
- Curriculum opportunities to promote British Values.
- Pupil Voice as a democratic process to promote change.
Promotes equality of opportunity, so all pupils thrive together understanding that difference is positive, not negative and that individual characteristics make people unique
- Differentiation of the curriculum so it is accessible to all.
- Team building activities during lunchtime activities, after-school clubs and Wellbeing afternoons.
- Effective use of risk assessments so inclusivity is promoted.
- Differentiation of activities to enable accessibility.
- Residential trips.
- Celebration of differences through focused weeks such as Neurodiversity week; Autism Awareness week; Deaf awareness week; LGBT month; Anti-bullying week; Mental Health awareness week.
- Use of One Page Profiles to identify individual strengths.
- Positive role modelling by staff, with negative behaviours and comments challenged.
- Individual and group work on understanding pupils diagnoses.
- Recognition of the achievements of individuals who have a special educational need or disability e.g. TV personalities, entrepreneurs, ex-pupils.
- Visits from external speakers.
- Individual and group work from PCT, SALT and OT.
- Recognise the positive achievements of characters in history and literature with differences.
Ensures an inclusive environment that meets the needs of all pupils irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation
- Clear expectations of pupils.
- Active promotion of inclusivity and understanding of protected characteristics through posters, display boards, assemblies and PSHE/ Life skills curriculum.
- Exploit opportunities in the curriculum such as History, RE, English to re-inforce inclusive practice.
- Positive role modelling by staff, with negative behaviours and comments challenged.
- High aspirations for all pupils, with staff actively supporting pupils to overcome perceived or real barriers to success.
Develops pupils' character defined as a set of positive personal traits, dispositions and virtues that informs motivation and guides their conduct
- Use of One Page Profile to identify strengths and support mechanisms.
- Going for Gold.
- Use of resolutions to reflect on behaviour and choices.
- Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
- Focus on charity days/ charitable organisations.
- Opportunities to engage with local community and charity projects.
- Pupil Empowerment Project – development of pupil ambassadors to identify and promote good causes.
- Individual and group work from PCT, SALT and OT.
- Positive role modelling by staff, with negative behaviours and comments challenged.
- Positive and meaningful feedback given to pupils.
- Weekly celebration assembly.
- AQA Unlocking Potential Programme.
- Recognise the effects and impact of anti-social behaviour through active discussion, PSHE curriculum and external speakers.
Develops confidence, resilience and knowledge so they can keep themselves mentally healthy.
- Use of One Page Profile to identify strengths and support mechanisms.
- Duke of Edinburgh scheme.
- Team building activities during lunchtime activities, after-school clubs and Wellbeing afternoons.
- Residential trips.
- Individual and group work from PCT, SALT and OT.
- Advice and support from school Clinical Psychologist.
- Opportunities throughout the curriculum to experience success through careful differentiation.
- Opportunities throughout the curriculum to experience failure in a safe, supportive environment.
- Focus on positive mental health through posters, displays.
- Positive relationships with key members of staff to provide opportunities to talk and co-regulate.
- Zones of regulation programme to support pupils in recognising their emotions and identifying strategies to self-regulate.
- Staff trained in TCI to support pupils to regulate when experiencing distress or crisis.
- Active promotion of independent working.
- Use of resolutions and de-briefs to reflect on choices.
Enables pupils to recognise online and offline risks to their safety e.g. risks from CSE, domestic abuse, FGM, forced marriage, substance misuse, gang activity, radicalisation, extremism and the support available to them
- PSHE curriculum
- Regular promotion of online safety through focus days and weeks – such as Safer Internet Week, cyber-bulling.
- Internet safety policy
- Clear expectations for pupils.
- Active promotion of how to stay safe online through posters, displays and assemblies.
- All staff aware of Keeping Children Safe in Education, PREVENT and CHANEL and safeguarding procedures.
- Active discussion (at an age and stage appropriate level) through PSHE and Life skills curriculum.
- External speakers – e.g. Brook
Enables pupils to recognise the dangers of inappropriate use of mobile technology and social media
- Digital Literacy is one of the key skills our STEM strategy aims to develop
Develops understanding of how to keep physically healthy
- PE curriculum differentiated to enable access to all pupils.
- School based initiatives such as WKS Move.
- Lunchtime activities include physical opportunities.
- After-school basketball club.
- Pupils have regular access to movement breaks throughout the day.
- Wellbeing afternoons include a range of physical activities.
- Healthy eating and maintaining physical health actively promoted throughout school through posters, display boards, PSHE, life skills, science, horticulture and PE curriculum.
- Healthy eating choices available at lunchtime.
- Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
Develops age appropriate understanding of healthy relationships
- PSHE curriculum
- RSE curriculum
- Specific interventions from Speech and Language Therapy, Pastoral Care Team & School Nurse
- Supported social activities e.g. Friday Wellbeing & lunch activities
- Active promotion of healthy relationships through positive modelling by staff
Supports readiness for next phase of education, training or employment
- Careers curriculum provided by school Careers and Pathways Officer in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks.
- Individual support provided by Careers and Pathways Officer to develop bespoke transition plan.
- Life Skills curriculum focusses on skills required to access and successfully engage in society – e.g. travel training.
- Careers is delivered through the PSHE Curriculum
- An independent careers advisor meets with pupils throughout the year.
- Active promotion of developing independence by positive modelling from staff.
- Transitions are supported through focused individual and group work by PCT, SALT and OT.
- Visits to colleges, training providing and employers arranged.
- WKS 'Meet the College' event
- Opportunities to visit businesses and employers.
- Close links established with external agencies such as social care, young people's services in pupils' local area.
- One Page Profile updated to reflect strengths and support needs for individuals.
- Close liaison with parents and carers to support them in supporting their young person
- Potential career opportunities identified and highlighted throughout the curriculum e.g. STEM.
- Opportunities to visit colleges & careers fairs.
- External speakers.
Enriches the curriculum
- Friday Wellbeing
- Lunchtime activities & clubs
- After-school clubs
- Enterprise Market
- STEM Strategy
- Pupil Ambassador programme
- School Pledges
- Life Skills curriculum
Sarah Wilkinson, Deputy Head (Personal Development) has led assemblies and activities io discuss what our Values mean to us and what that means for our pupils.