Personal Development and Character Education

Personal Social and Health Education * Relationship Sex and Health Education Careers SMSC *Wider Opportunities * Character Development * British Values * Behaviour * Inclusion and Equality of Opportunity

We view the personal development of pupils to be just as important as educational attainment. All the above elements are carefully sequenced to provide opportunities for pupils to build on, learn and remember important knowledge. All elements are taught at an age appropriate level and revisited regularly. As a result pupils are given the knowledge they need to make good decisions, the understanding and skills they need to manage their lives, and this contributes to building their character.

Our school values, Be Kind, Be Respectful, Make a Difference and Be Passionate about Learning’ describe the key aspects of personal development that are central to our school life.

Our personal development curriculum enables pupils to develop into confident learners who are able to work with others. It helps them to develop resilience, respect and responsibility. It provides them with the knowledge and cultural capital to become well-informed citizens, able to appreciate human creativity and achievement. Our pupils develop an understanding of the community to which they belong. The curriculum includes the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Programme, as part of the work which ensures that pupils will be able to contribute towards building a better world.

Our Personal Social Health and Education curriculum is age-appropriate and tailored to meet the needs of our pupils. It includes mental health and wellbeing, physical health (including healthy lifestyles), learning about staying safe and economic understanding. A key element is Relationships Education which includes healthy relationships and an understanding of consent and safety online.

We develop pupils’ understanding of the Fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. Our pupils know and understand these values.

From Reception through to Y6 we effectively promote equality of opportunity and diversity so that all pupils can thrive together, understanding that difference is a positive, not a negative, and that individual characteristics make people unique. This is taught through our curriculum, assemblies, whole school events (Eid celebration, Diwali light festival Christmas service).

To develop pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development children are taught and encouraged to: understand and appreciate the range of different cultures in the school and further afield; show respect for different faiths and cultural diversity; show respect for the different protected characteristics; use of a range of social skills in different contexts; participate in a variety of communities and social settings; recognise the difference between right and wrong and understand consequence; investigate and offer reasoned views about moral and ethical issues.

Our pupils have access to a wide and rich set of experiences (including cultural experiences) providing a meaningful and memorable context to learning. Trips, visitors and enrichment activities are integral to learning and enhance pupils’ engagement. These opportunities enrich learning for our pupils, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

We ensure that the curriculum allows for pupils’ wider development. This includes enterprise projects to support charities, opportunities to sing in a choir, learning to play a range of musical instruments and representing the school in a wide range of sporting activities. Pupils take on a wide range of responsibilities; they represent peers as Mini Vinnies, digital leaders, eco team, school prefects, well-being ambassadors and sports leaders.

Article 29 of the UNCRC says that a child or young person’s education should help their mind, body and talents be the best they can. We ensure the opportunities for pupils to develop their talents and interest are of exceptional quality. Pupils enter a broad range of competitions and we offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities. There is a strong take up of the opportunities provided by school.

We provide a programme of opportunities to all year groups helping pupils develop high aspiration and the wide range of careers to which they can aspire.

We support children to acquire knowledge, now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, Personal Development education develops the qualities and attributes children need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. The benefits to pupils of such an approach are numerous as they are prepared to manage the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they will face in life.

Our whole school approach promotes effective relationships between all members of the school community. Our behaviour curriculum sets out the expected behaviour, and this is explicitly taught to the pupils. The promotion of pupils’ personal and social development underpins all other learning. It helps pupils to build their character, confidence and self-esteem and to understand what influences their decisions. Developing self-understanding, empathy and the ability to work with others helps our pupils to enjoy healthy and productive relationships in all aspects of their lives. We are proud to share that we hold an award for Excellence in Pupil Development that was externally assessed.

Character Education is the wider personal development of a child beyond the academic education they receive in school. It aims to instil in pupils a number of key characteristics and values such as resilience, honesty, motivation and humility, all of which will help them in their adult lives.

Character development is a key element of our personal development programme and school life. We are a school with a strong ethos for everyone to fulfil their potential. Character development is threaded through our expectations of behaviour towards each other, our ambitious curriculum developing resilience and confidence and our programme of wider development opportunities including volunteering and service to the community. We ensure that all our pupils benefit equally from what we offer by reducing barriers to participation.

Education for character is already integral to the work we do. We balance academic education with the wider personal development of pupils. We know that these and other aspects of our work all contribute to forming well-educated and rounded young people ready to take their place in the world.

As part of our duty to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, we promote the spiritual, moral, social, and cultural (SMSC) development of pupils and prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. Character education contributes to our duty to promote SMSC.

We know that we have an important role in fostering good mental wellbeing among pupils so that they can fulfil their potential at school and are well prepared for adult life. With clear expectations on behaviour,  well-planned provision for character and personal development, we help promote good mental wellbeing. 

We have identified four important character traits we foster at St Vincent's. These, together with our mission and values help to shape our curriculum and ethos in school, ultimately impacting on the life chances of our children.