Personal Development Curriculum

Personal Development Curriculum

At Mossbourne Fobbing Academy, our Personal Development curriculum is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to navigate the challenges of their formative years while fostering open-minded, responsible, and engaged global citizens. Our programme ensures that students are fully prepared for life in modern Britain by enabling them to make informed decisions about their well-being, relationships, and personal development.

In an ever-evolving digital and social landscape, young people today face numerous opportunities as well as risks. Our curriculum provides students with the necessary tools to manage their academic, personal, and social lives in a positive and responsible manner. Through high-quality teaching and a structured, developmental programme, students will gain the skills needed to maintain their health, safety, and well-being while preparing for further education, employment, and adult life.

Structure and Delivery

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) are delivered through a planned programme across Key Stages 3 and 4 including form time and drop down days. Our students will benefit from:

• Engaging and informative classroom-based lessons.
• Workshops led by external agencies.
• Community engagement initiatives.
• Theatre productions addressing key social issues.

The curriculum follows three core themes:

• Health and Well-being
• Relationships
• Living in the Wider World

The topics covered across both key stages include:

• Emotional health and well-being
• British Values
• Government and politics
• Staying safe (including online safety and county lines awareness)
• Drugs and alcohol education
• Careers and financial education
• Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

Our RSE programme provides students with the knowledge and understanding necessary to develop healthy relationships and make informed choices. The curriculum covers topics such as puberty, consent, contraception, and the responsibilities of parenthood. Lessons are age-appropriate, balanced, and delivered in a sensitive manner, fostering confidence and informed decision-making.

Year-by-Year Overview:

• Year 7: Healthy relationships, family dynamics, puberty, and adolescence.
• Year 8: Different types of relationships, communication skills, and sexual health.
• Year 9: Contraception, sexual health, personal safety, and relationship dynamics.
• Year 10: The impact of pornography, different relationship types, and contraception.
• Year 11: Sexual health, pregnancy, and family structures.

Assessment and Feedback

There is no statutory requirement for formal assessment in PSHE and RSE; however, students engage in discussion-based learning, group activities, and reflective exercises. Half-termly assessments are conducted via Microsoft Teams, and students have opportunities to provide feedback on their learning experience.

Communication with Parents

We are committed to maintaining open communication with parents regarding PSHE and RSE. Updates will be shared via:

• The Academy Newsletter
• Social Media Channels on our Facebook page
• Parental Surveys for Feedback

Additionally, students will receive a Behaviour for Learning grade on their academic reports to reflect their engagement and participation in the subject.

Our curriculum is designed to encompass a vast array of themes, each contributing to the holistic growth and development of our students. These themes include:

• An extensive careers programme and support for students so they are ready for the next stages of their education/training.
• The opportunity to attend a range of extracurricular activities, including 100% uptake in Key Stage Three.
• An exciting enrichment curriculum including the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Combined Cadets Force and many clubs such as rock climbing, coding club, art, gardening and many others.
• A comprehensive assembly programme covering British Values, cultural days, and other important topics throughout the year.
• A wide range of educational visits, such as museums, universities and trips abroad.
• A Personal, Social, Health and Economic education & Relationships (PSHE), Sex and Health education (RSE)
• A range of student leadership opportunities including head students and student voice (Student Council).

We also actively promote and develop students' understanding and appreciation for the five core British values (tolerance, rule of law, democracy, individual liberty and mutual respect).

At Mossbourne Fobbing Academy we believe in the holistic development of our pupils, offering pupils more opportunities that will lead to more choices in the future.

Our Enrichment Curriculum goes beyond the National Curriculum. It offers unique learning experiences which provide students with enriched cultural capital. By offering a varied and diverse set of experiences, we help to prepare students for the culturally diverse nature of the society in which we live. 

As a school we are working towards achieving an award for Excellent in Personal Development. This award offers a structure framework to evaluate and enrich our pastoral curriculum. It supports in development pupils personal attributes and attitudes, such as self-confidence, resilience and self-discipline. With a focus on involving local and national organisations, it helps schools prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

The framework for this award is as follows;

• Curriculum – Plan so that knowledge and skills for personal development are embedded into the whole-school curriculum
• Behaviour – Set high expectations for pupil behaviour and conduct, including punctuality and attendance
• Responsible citizens – Promote positive attitudes from pupils towards their own learning, towards each other, and towards the wider community.
• Local partnerships – Engage with local groups and parents to deliver enrichment activities that develop pupils’ confidence, responsibility and leadership skills.
• External organisations – Actively enlist the support of national and international agencies to help raise pupils’ aspirations for their future.
• Professional development – Commit to high-quality, ongoing staff CPD so that all staff can build and support pupils’ personal development.

At Mossbourne Fobbing Academy, we are dedicated to ensuring our students develop into confident, informed, and responsible young adults, equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for lifelong success.

Useful Website Links;

Below are a number of useful website links to support conversations about these subjects at home;

• Drug, Alcohol, Smoking - https://www.talktofrank.com/ 
• Puberty, RSE -   https://learn.brook.org.uk/ 
• Mental Health -   https://www.childline.org.uk/ 
• Rights and Responsibility -   https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize 
• First Aid  - https://www.sja.org.uk/ 
• Healthy Lifestyle - https://www.gov.uk/government
• RSE - https://www.brook.org.uk
• Common Questions - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education-faqs