Personal development
At Serenity School, Personal Development (PD) is a core part of our curriculum, ensuring every pupil is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive in life beyond school. Our PD curriculum fosters inclusion, independence, and self-worth, preparing pupils for further education, employment, and active participation in society.
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A Tailored Approach for Every Learner
Our three-tiered approach ensures PD is accessible and relevant:
- Formal Pathway: Focused on academic achievement, career readiness, and leadership.
- Semi-Formal Pathway: Emphasising life skills, employability, and resilience.
- Nurture Pathway: Prioritising emotional well-being, communication, and social inclusion.
- This approach ensures that all pupils develop the skills and confidence needed to lead fulfilling and independent lives, whether pursuing further education, entering the workforce, or engaging in the community.
Preparing Pupils for Life Beyond School
Our PD framework develops real-world skills, including:
- Healthy Lifestyles & Well-being: Promoting physical and mental health, informed decision-making, and resilience.
- Financial Literacy: Teaching budgeting, saving, and responsible money management.
- Careers & Employability: Offering work experience, employer engagement, and vocational learning aligned with the Gatsby Benchmark.
- Online Safety & Digital Literacy: Helping pupils navigate the digital world responsibly by exploring topical issues such as AI Awareness, Cybersecurity, Social Media & Mental Health, Responsible AI-Assisted Learning, etc.
- Building Relationships: Developing conflict resolution, emotional regulation, and interpersonal skills.
- Self-Care & Mental Health: Supporting stress management and personal resilience.
Measuring Impact
We ensure PD is meaningful and track progress through:
- Pupil Voice & Feedback – Surveys, focus groups, and discussions.
- PASS (Pupil Attitudes to Self and School) Assessments – Identifying support needs.
- Careers Tracking – Monitoring employer engagement, work experience completion, and post-school destinations.
- SMSC Grid & Personal Development Portfolios – Tracking progress in British values, relationships, and community participation.
- NEET Prevention Strategy – Supporting at-risk pupils to transition successfully into education, training, or employment.
- Parental & Stakeholder Engagement – Collaborating with families, employers, and agencies.
- Investor in Me (IIM) Awards – Recognising achievements in attendance, behaviour, academic progress, and employability skills.
At Serenity School, Personal Development goes beyond academics—it empowers pupils to lead fulfilling, independent lives.
For more information, please contact Pauline Dawson on pdawson@serenityschool.org.uk.
Personal development
PSHE is a timetabled session every week with each week/term having a different focus. (See SOL)
An annual SMSC plan of significant dates in the religious and cultural calendar ensures that there is a focus, through assemblies and PSHE lessons on important cultural and religious festivals and commemorative days.
The development of social and communication skills is also a key part of the PSHE/SMSC curriculum that reflects our Core British Values Charter.
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Religious Education and Collective Worship
Religious Education themes and topics are covered via Creative Curriculum Lessons as well as through assemblies and PSHE.
Children of any faith and those of no faith are encouraged to value everyone and their beliefs equally. Shared assembly times focus on celebration and the worth-ship of all of those within the school community and aim:
- To show interest in and concern for members of the school community
- To celebrate special occasions together
- To show concern for the daily happenings in school life, the local community and wider world
- To share appreciation of worthwhile activities undertaken by groups within the school
- To reflect upon dimensions of human life, the wonderful, beautiful, joyful, heroic, humorous, tragic, ugly, sorrowful, solemn…
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from Religious Education and/or Collective Worship.
Sex and Relationships Education
Sex and Relationships Education is taught in PSHE lessons at a level appropriate to the level of understanding of the young people.
We liaise closely with partner organisations and the Learning Disability Nursing Team for specialist individual input and support.
Parents may request that their child is excused from Sex Education.
PSHE SOL
We provide a full and thorough curriculum for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education.
The impact of this is a school that is inclusive and aware of others needs and feelings. Pupils are open to new ideas and other cultures. We endeavour to create a school environment where spiritual, moral, social and cultural themes are part of all we do.
Whole-School Pastoral Action Plan at Serenity School
Actions
Establish a pastoral support system for all students and staff
Who will lead?
School counselor and range of therapies making impact positively
Success criteria
Attendance at 90>%
Pupils making expected progress – EHCP Targets
Reduction in staff absences
Monitoring and evaluation
Headteacher
Actions
Senior teacher responsible for pastoral care offers support and advice to staff
Organise CPD to support this
Who will lead?
Senior teacher
School counselor
Success criteria
All pupils know that staff are able to support them when necessary
Monitoring and evaluation
Senior teacher
Actions
When reviewing policies, ensure that, where appropriate, pastoral care is included
Who will lead?
All staff that write and review policies
Success criteria
Policies are updated
Monitoring and evaluation
Senior teacher
Actions
Hold continuing professional development (CPD) sessions on PSHE across all subjects
Who will lead?
CPD co-ordinator
Success criteria
All staff are confident in teaching PSHE as part of their subject
Monitoring and evaluation
Senior teacher
Actions
Regularly share the school ethos with staff, pupils and parents
Use displays around the school to celebrate our mission statement
When inducting new staff and pupils, including information about the school’s ethos
Who will lead?
All staff
Success criteria
The whole school community is aware of the school’s ethos
Monitoring and evaluation
Senior teacher
Actions
Use a buddy system to ensure that all new pupils have a ‘friend’ to help them settle into school
Who will lead?
Class teachers
Form tutors
Success criteria
Every pupil settles into school as quickly as possible
Monitoring and evaluation
Phase leaders
Heads of year
Actions
Nominate a governor to be responsible for oversight of pastoral care
Who will lead?
Chair of governors
Headteacher
Success criteria
The nominated governor and Senior teacher meet termly to celebrate successes and raise issues and concerns
Monitoring and evaluation
Headteacher
Actions
Identify a Senior teacher to become responsible for pastoral care
Who will lead?
Headteacher
Senior teacher
Success criteria
Senior teacher co-ordinates pastoral care
Monitoring and evaluation
Headteacher
Governors
