Personal Development Statement of Intent

Our intent is to nurture happy, healthy young people who have the knowledge, academic achievement and strength of character to lead safe and successful lives in modern Britain, preparing them for their next steps in education with a thirst for lifelong learning. We ensure that every member of our school community knows that we are committed to supporting their physical health, safety, and emotional wellbeing throughout their journey with us.

At Whetley Academy our aims are highlighted in the Academy motto of “Changing Lives”, which embodies our attitude and intentions towards the importance of the development of all aspects of the Personal Development curriculum.

We promote Personal Development as a whole-school approach. All our pupils are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of the school and the wider community. In doing so, pupils learn to recognise their own worth, develop a sense of their own identity and the ability to take their place in the community as well as respect for, and working with, others. There are many avenues throughout the school which drives our personal development curriculum forward. These include:

• Safeguarding

• Relationship education, Health education, Sex education

• British Values

• SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural)

• PSHE taught using Jigsaw

• Our Trust and School Values

• Religious Education & Physical Education

• Interactions with our pastoral team.

• Citizenship and Character Education

• Health Education

• Celebratory Days and Events

• Extended Learning Curriculum (Clubs and Classes)

• Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being

• Online Safety

• Careers and Wider Opportunities

• SEND

• Education Recovery

• Staying Safe

Implementation of Personal Development

Personal development is at the heart of our whole school ethos. We ensure each area of the personal development curriculum delivers all aspects of the statutory guidance and reflects our specific needs of our children and the wider school community.

We have staff and school leaders who delivers key areas of the personal development curriculum. SMSC and British Values, PSHE and RSE, Emotional Health and Wellbeing are taught alongside curriculum by all staff.

The Personal Development curriculum is delivered through every aspect of school life; every interaction with another child or an adult in school is a learning experience. It includes activities and experiences that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build character and cultural capital, enhance children’s quality of life and encourage aspiration.

All aspects of the curriculum are mapped out in the overview of our whole school approach to personal development. Some are taught, some delivered through PSHE

Curriculum and RSE, other experiences may happen through visits and visitors.

Students are encouraged to develop their individual character, learn how to stay safe and healthy and develop knowledge to ensure they are well equipped for the future.

Whetley’s Pantry

We are so proud to be able to support and serve our local community on a weekly basis. We are recognised across Girlington as being a place that seeks to support, educate and improve the local area. One of the main ways we do this is through our Pantry. Students at Whetley worked alongside a local charity with the vision to support our community during a financially difficult time for many people. This lead to the development of the Whetley Pantry in which local families can visit school on a weekly basis and select different items that will help them have a more sustainable and balanced diet. The pantry is run by our staff and supported by local supermarkets and food banks. We are the first school in the Yorkshire region to have a Pantry on site. It is a real privilege to know that our school is supporting our families as well as our students and something we take immense pride in.