We believe our responsibility to educate students extends beyond their academic studies. Our Personal Development curriculum is carefully designed to instil our core values, ensure our students understand the wider world and their place within it and enrich their wider experience so that they are well-placed to thrive in modern society.

We insist on a curriculum that removes the notion of disadvantage, encourages resilience, provides equity and equality of opportunity and instils independence and aspiration in our students, so they can become responsible, active citizens that contribute positively to society.

 

Personal Development incorporates:

• Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC) Education
• Religious Education
• Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)
• Personal, Social and Health and Economic Education (PSHE)
• Careers Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)
• Character Education
• Citizenship and British Values
• E-Safety
• Extracurricular activities and wider opportunities

 

Excellence in Pupil Development Award

There is therefore a growing awareness in education that the development of pupils’ personal development skills has a significant long-term impact on academic outcomes, long-term success and happiness. While academic success is one aim of schools, preparing young people for life in an increasingly complex world, so that they can manage their lives, understand their responsibilities towards themselves and others and make a positive contribution to society are key aims which will sustain them in the long term.

Actively developing pupils’ life skills so that they can be critical thinkers, creative, tolerant and empathetic people are necessary characteristics for citizens of our modern society. Employers recognise that developed personal skills are sometimes sorely lacking amongst young people, hindering their chances of employment and progress.

In response to this challenge, Mosslands School has embarked on the Excellence in Pupil Development Award (EPDA). This award is more than an approach to developing citizens of the 21st century, it is a way to ensure young people are equipped with the personal skills and knowledge which will help them manage risk and setbacks in their lives, as well as enhance their wellbeing.

 

Aims of the Award

The EPDA aims to provide schools with a structured and systematic approach to developing a ‘skills for life’ curriculum. The objectives outline the essential requirements to embed a culture and ethos which aims to develop pupils’ personal development and skills. The award is divided into eight objectives:

Objective 1: The school demonstrates a commitment to promoting pupils' personal development and skills by working towards achieving the Excellence in Pupil Development Award.

Objective 2: The school has robust policies in place that promote and develop pupils’ personal development and skills, including their behaviour and attitudes.

Objective 3: The school’s curriculum promotes and supports pupils’ personal development and skills.

Objective 4: The school actively enlists the support of professionals and agencies linked to national and international organisations to strengthen its provision for pupils’ personal development and skills.

Objective 5: The school promotes pupils’ positive behaviour and attitudes towards one another, adults and their learning.

Objective 6: The school commits to training and developing its staff to fully support pupils’ personal development and skills.

Objective 7: The school works with the local community and parents/carers to support the school’s commitment to developing pupils’ personal development and skills, including their conduct and attitudes.

Objective 8: The school summarises its achievements and outlines its future plans for pupils’ personal development.