Personal Development

At Holyrood Academy we believe that the development of our young people, through our Personal Development Programme (PDP) is every bit as
important as their academic performance.

Personal Development Programme

What is Personal Development and why is it important?

Today's children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.

Personal Development lessons allow this crucial education to our students. It is a subject where students development the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. These skills and attributes help students to stay healthy, safe and prepare them for life and work both now and in the future.

‘Non scholae sed vitae’ – we learn not for school but for life.

All secondary schools in England are required to teach young people about Relationship and Sex Education (RSE). This has been mandatory from September 2020.

Our Personal Development curriculum, previously known as PSHE, has been designed and developed to meet these statutory requirements. The new guidance also includes a change to parents’ right to withdraw young people from RSE. Further information on this can be found in Holyrood Academy’s PSHE and RSE Policies.

The Government has also issued guidance for parents and this can be found here.

What is studied in PDP?

At Holyrood Academy, we have developed our Personal Development curriculum to support our young people to thrive in a time of rapid change and be fully prepared for life beyond the classroom and in their future lives. We aim to not simply teach students about crucial issues but believe it is vital they should have the opportunity to explore their attitudes, values and beliefs about these and to develop the skills, language and strategies necessary to manage life’s changes and challenges.

It is our belief that high quality Relationships and Sex Education will stay with our pupils for life. Good RSE is about providing students with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make safe, healthy and informed relationship choices as young people and in the future as adults. Empowering our young people to understand their bodies and reflect on their values and self-respect will give them the best chances of forming fulfilling, healthy, nurturing relationships.

The PDP Curriculum is organised into three core strands:

  • Health and Wellbeing

  • Relationships

  • Living in the Wider World.

At Holyrood Academy, our PDP Curriculum will:

  • Develop prior learning

  • Be age appropriate and differentiated to meet the needs of ALL pupils

  • Present information in an objective, balanced, sensitive and fully inclusive manner

  • Encourage the development of social skills and strategies, which will reduce the risk of exploitation and misunderstanding.

A copy of our PDP Curriculum Plan can be downloaded found on the PDP Subject page.

If you would like any further information about our PDP programme please contact Mrs Sam Davison, Assistant Headteacher (sdavison1@holyrood.uat.ac)