Personal Development (P.D.) is at the heart of our school learning journey.  It encourages, promotes, adopts and embeds a range of skills that allow children to be life-long learners, which is part of our school motto ‘Knowledge ... your passport to the world’. Our school values ‘Respect, Kindness, Ambition, Resilience, Cooperation, Responsibility’ describe the key aspects of personal development that are central to our school life.

 We support children to acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, PD education develops the qualities and attributes children need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. The benefits to pupils of such an approach are numerous as PD prepares them to manage many of the most critical opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they will face growing up in such rapidly changing and challenging times. It also helps them to connect and apply the knowledge and understanding they learn in all subjects to practical, real-life situations while helping them to feel safe and secure enough to fulfil their academic potential.

 Our whole school approach promotes effective relationships between all members of the school community. The promotion of pupils’ personal and social development underpins all other learning. PD education contributes to, and assists children and young people to build their personal identities, confidence and self-esteem and to understand what influences their decisions. Developing self-understanding, empathy and the ability to work with others helps our pupils to enjoy healthy and productive relationships in all aspects of their lives.

The vision for personal development at Bowlee Park is that:

• Children have opportunities throughout their time at Bowlee Park to have rich and varied experiences
• All children develop their cultural capital
• Physical and mental wellbeing are prioritised as much as academic achievements.
• Families are involved wherever possible to support all areas of their child’s personal development.

Overview of provision:

The attached document gives an overview of our personal development provision which is separated into eight elements:

• Relationship Health Education,
• Careers
•  Wider Opportunities
• Character Development
• SMSC
•  British values
• Citizenship
• Inclusion and Equality.