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Personal Development at Jesmond Park Academy
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Personal Development

Personal Development (Pd) is a unique curriculum area offered at this school, in key stage four. It is unique as it does not have the pressure or constraints of a national syllabi.

Personal Development (Pd) Curriculum Philosophy and Intent Statement

Instead it is part of the curriculum that can respond to the emerging needs of Jesmond Park Academy students and also ensures the delivery of important topics, irrespective of the option subjects a student has chosen. Pd is a blended curriculum which includes Careers (CEI), Citizenship (Cz), Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE), Study Skills and Religious Education (RE).

The purpose of Pd is to provide students with the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to develop into well-rounded, informed individuals who are equipped for the next stage in their development. To this endeavour we promote the philosophies of Citizenship, PSHE and RE but also help support students through the GCSE examination years and onto their future careers.

Our aim is to provide students with an opportunity to investigate, study and comprehend key topics and seek advice without the pressures of an examination course. This enables us to run a fluid curriculum that has at its heart the needs of the student and the desire to provide an education that is broad, rich and deep. Central to Pd is the desire to encourage students to ask questions, develop their own answers and transition successfully onto their chosen career path.

 

 

Personal Development (Pd) Content Statement

The Personal Development (Pd) curriculum responds to emerging student needs and therefore is prone to regular changes and updates. However, a fundamental belief is that students best transition into adults when they are armed with knowledge and information to allow them to make good choices. To support this there are several key themes we regularly revisit namely: Careers Information Advice and Guidance, the application process for higher and further education and apprenticeships; Citizenship and PSHE Education focussing on healthy living and relationships; Religious Education focussing on applying faith to modern day life and discussing current contemporary moral issues.

A key strand to the course is providing for students a safe environment where they can practise a lot of the key skills required for transitioning to the next stage in their lives. We teach exam and revision technique at strategic points throughout the year to promote deeper learning and ingrain self-organisation and discipline. We help students discover their skillset and personal qualities for use post sixteen e.g. to enable them to talk confidently during interviews and investigate career paths. We deliver compulsory parts of the curriculum such sex education and religious education. We revisit core skills such as the ability to investigate, interpret and reflect on information. We build upon their understanding and help them to evaluate, analyse and synthesise knowledge. Oracy skills are a key element through the regular debate and discussion of moral dilemmas and important life events which occurs.

Personal Development at Jesmond Park Academy

Our core Pd staff work together to ensure good, up to date information is available to students, so they can be well informed and ready for post 16. To support this we also invite in other experts such as nurse and careers advisors. Throughout Pd we encourage students to realise their self-worth and raise their aspirations by urging them to think critically, so they can be successful beyond the classroom.
 

Personal Development (Pd) curriculum offer

This occurs only in KS4. The curriculum offer regularly changes to support the needs of students. However, it always includes modules on Careers, Cz/PHSE, RE and Study skills.

 

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