Introduction
The Personal Development Curriculum embraces the strands Citizenship, Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) and Careers Education and Guidance (CEG). Within St Edmund Arrowsmith there is a shared responsibility and a co-ordinated approach to successfully deliver the pupils’ entitlement for the above three strands. This is achieved through a combination of events days and shorter suspended timetable activities, organised by the Personal Development Curriculum department, and through cross curricular lessons, assemblies, guidance and support systems, special projects and other events that enrich pupils’ experiences. All pupils actively participate in all areas of the Personal Development Curriculum either within their form, year or specifically selected activity groups. The Personal Development Curriculum views all areas of its curriculum as a way of enriching pupils’ experiences, specifically through developing positive attitudes and values.
The Personal Development Curriculum Department aims to reinforce and develop positive attitudes and values in students and thereby enhance their Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development. Any such experiences specifically enables students to:
- Recognise and appreciate individual values, priorities, strengths, weaknesses, interests and abilities in oneself and others.
- Develop a realisation of their own potential and prospects and make a positive contribution.
- Raise awareness and understanding of ethnic and cultural differences
- Appreciate the need for critical evaluation of aims in life and the need to constantly evaluate progress.
- Appreciate the need for adequate safety precautions
- Develop self-awareness, self-confidence and the ability to offer reasoned views about moral and ethical issues, and being able to understand and appreciate the viewpoints of others on these issues.
Careers
The delivery of Careers enables you to be fully equipped to make well thought out career decisions and develops the lifelong skills required to search for, secure and succeed in positive future destinations. This will include the ability to talk confidently to employers and to present yourselves as professionals.
Year 7: Getting to know you (Term 2).
This year you will identify, develop and assess some of the key skills that employers value. You will consider what makes you unique and will develop the skills of self-awareness and reflection, which will support you with making decisions about your future.
Year 8: Broadening Horizons (Term 1B).
This year, you will be encouraged to consider a range of inspiring careers in relation to role models with the purpose of awakening and raising aspirations about the future. You will recognise the value in seeking out enrichment opportunities to develop your skills and confidence.
Year 9: Decisions, decisions (Term 2).
This year you will choose KS4 options. Therefore, you will focus on making well thought out decisions in relation to their strengths and aspirations. They will be required to hone their independent research skills when looking at specific careers aligned to their strengths and interests and provide a rationale for their options choices. Presentations from local colleges and the Options Market place also provide a greater insight into the opportunities available to them at KS4 and post 16.
Year 10: Standing out from the crowd (Term 3).
During Year 10, students will consider how to ‘stand out from the crowd’ by learning how to match themselves to jobs and how to write a CV and Personal Statement. They will think about their own personal brand and how they can market themselves to employers. They will also carry out research into their post 16 opportunities and visit St John Rigby College as part of a taster session.
Year 11: Moving on (Term 1A). Delivered on a Tuesday
All students have access to a full range of independent, impartial careers and education options and are guided through a decision making process to ensure that they make a successful transition into further education. Pupils will have the opportunity to listen to presentations from local colleges before being supported with their online applications.
Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 also attend a Careers Fair where more than 25 providers are invited and students gain information through answering a series of questions in a booklet, which is tailored to each year group.
For specific information relating to careers, which includes application for College deadlines and Careers events, you can follow us on twitter @SEACareers.
