The Hart School, in partnership with parents, has a vital role in preparing children and young people to negotiate the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly complex world. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. Personal Development deals with real-life issues affecting our children, families and communities. It’s concerned with the social, health and economic realities of their lives, experiences and attitudes including relationships. It supports students to be healthy (mentally and physically), safe (online and offline) and equipped to thrive in their relationships and careers.
Parents’ and carers’ support is important to the success of our personal development programme. Students are encouraged to talk about the curriculum with parents and carers. Our personal development curriculum includes relationship education and is available for download so that parents and carers can see what content is being delivered.
Why is Personal Development Important?
As a school, we operate a whole school approach to Personal Development and some appropriate topics are explored in tutor time, Life Skills, Life and Soul Days and assembly. Other subject areas contribute to certain topics such as biology in Science and aspects of relationship and health education arise in English, Drama and PE.
Teaching is conducted in a safe learning environment through the use of ground rules and distancing techniques so that students are not put on the spot or expected to discuss their own personal issues in class. Teaching resources are selected on the basis of their appropriateness to students.