Personal Development

At Edgar Wood Academy, our Personal Development curriculum is designed to ensure that every student can belong, thrive and achieve within an inclusive, supportive and welcoming school community. We are committed to nurturing confident, responsible and compassionate young people who contribute positively to their community and are fully prepared for life in modern Britain. Our approach is underpinned by our core values of responsibility, respect, resilience and empathy, which are woven through every aspect of our inclusive school culture.

Our intent is to provide a high-quality, ambitious, inclusive and coherently sequenced Personal Development offer that develops students’ character, supports their wellbeing, and equips them with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to succeed now and in the future. We aim to create an inclusive environment where all students feel safe, valued, represented and empowered to express themselves, explore their identities and celebrate the diversity of our community.

Belong

- Experience a strong sense of community where they feel safe, valued and included, regardless of background, identity or need.

- Learn about equality, diversity and the protected characteristics, developing the confidence to challenge discrimination and prejudice in all its forms.

- Build supportive relationships through tutor time, assemblies, PSHCE, enrichment and leadership opportunities that promote an inclusive sense of belonging.

- Engage in activities that promote teamwork, collaboration and respect, enabling them to contribute to a positive and inclusive school culture.

Thrive

- Develop the resilience, confidence and independence required to overcome challenges and make informed, safe decisions in an inclusive environment.

- Receive high-quality education in physical health, mental wellbeing, healthy relationships, online safety and financial literacy.

- Access a rich and inclusive programme of clubs, cultural experiences, trips and events that broaden horizons and enhance cultural capital for all.

- Grow through leadership, volunteering, social action and community engagement, supported by industry professionals, public services and external partners.

Achieve

- Understand their strengths and develop high aspirations through an inclusive programme of careers education, employer encounters and further education guidance aligned with the Gatsby Benchmarks and fully compliant with Provider Access Legislation.

- Build essential employability skills through encounters with employers, colleges, apprenticeship providers and universities from Year 7 onwards.

- Access Unifrog, with both students and parents able to explore pathways, career profiles and labour market information.

- Participate in work experience in both KS3 and KS4, ensuring all students gain real-world insight into employment and career planning.

- Take part in a discrete, age-appropriate spiral careers curriculum informed by the Career Development Institute (CDI) Framework.

- Access a weekly KS4 careers programme delivered in Form Time, preparing all students for post-16 progression, interviews, applications and transition.

- Learn to take responsibility for their choices, behaviour and personal growth, ensuring they thrive socially, emotionally and academically.

- Develop a deep understanding of British Values, enabling them to participate actively and responsibly in society.

Assemblies

Our carefully planned and inclusive assembly programme supports students’ wider development and ensures that all students receive high-quality, consistent and accessible messages.

Assemblies at Edgar Wood Academy:

- Begin with an Inspirational Leader, exploring their life, achievements and related protected characteristic(s).

- End with an inclusive inter-faith reflection, highlighting faith celebrations across global traditions.

- Are themed to align with national events, cultural celebrations, safeguarding priorities and inclusive milestones.

- Address contextual safeguarding concerns at national, local and school-community levels.

- Include visiting speakers such as the School Nurse, Police, Fire Service, Place2Be, Kooth and wider community specialists.

- Reinforce our values of respect, responsibility, resilience and empathy.

Form Time

Form Time is an essential part of our inclusive Personal Development offer. Our structured programme includes:

- A weekly assembly

- Cultural Affairs discussions

- Reading that promotes representation, literacy and diverse worldviews

- Numeracy activities to strengthen confidence and independence

- A sequenced PSHCE/SMSC/Careers programme preparing every student for life in modern Britain

What Personal Development Looks Like at Edgar Wood Academy

Our inclusive provision ensures that students:

- Develop strong character through explicit teaching of responsibility, respect, resilience and empathy.

- Understand how to maintain physical and mental health.

- Build secure knowledge of healthy relationships, consent and personal boundaries.

- Develop confidence, self-esteem and the ability to express their views sensitively and respectfully.

- Access a range of leadership roles including JLT, Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, Diversity Ambassadors, HIVE Ambassadors, Mental Health Activists and Behaviour Mentors.

- Participate in social action projects such as the Year 9 First Give Project.

- Explore identity, diversity and global issues through the curriculum and wider provision.

- Gain the knowledge required to stay safe online and in the wider world.

- Experience a curriculum that promotes equality, inclusion and a strong sense of belonging.

Our Ambition

Our ambition is for every student to leave Edgar Wood Academy as a well-rounded, thoughtful, inclusive and aspirational young person, equipped with the character, skills and confidence to make a positive contribution to society. Through our comprehensive Personal Development curriculum—including a robust, spiral and inclusive PSHCE and Careers programme—we aim to ensure that every student can belong to our community, thrive in their personal growth and achieve their full potential.

At Edgar Wood Academy, our enrichment and personal development programme is designed so that every pupil can belong, thrive and achieve through a wide range of opportunities:

• Belong – by taking part in clubs, sports, volunteering and leadership activities that help pupils feel connected, valued, and part of the school community.
• Thrive – by exploring new interests, developing skills and gaining experiences across the arts, music, sport, STEM, and beyond, helping them grow in confidence, character and ambition.
• Achieve – by challenging themselves through practical, creative and leadership opportunities that build resilience, teamwork, and real-world skills, preparing them for success both at school and beyond.

Our enrichment programme is carefully tracked, extensive, and thoughtfully tailored to reflect our school context and pupils’ diverse needs and aspirations. All pupils can participate fully, with adjustments and support made where needed to remove barriers and enable everyone to belong and thrive.

Opportunities are available before school, at lunchtimes, after school, and sometimes as trips, providing flexibility for pupils to take part according to their interests and schedules.

Pupils can enjoy a broad selection of sports including football, rugby, netball, basketball, athletics and darts, supported by our fully equipped fitness suite. They can also work with external specialists such as boxing instructors and skateboarding instructors, providing first-hand experience and insights from experts across different industries.

Our creative and academic clubs include chess, journalism, STEM, computer programming, music, samba, choir, drama, art, and cooking (and many more) giving pupils the chance to discover new talents and develop existing ones.

Volunteering and community-focused opportunities are an important part of enrichment, with activities including The Big Clean Up, Eco Group, Gardening, Duke of Edinburgh, and various charity initiatives, encouraging pupils to make a positive difference.

We also offer multiple leadership opportunities that all pupils are encouraged to access, including Junior Leadership Team, Anti-bullying Ambassadors, Hive (SEND) Ambassadors, Equality & Diversity Ambassadors, Mental Health Activists, Behaviour Mentors, and in Year 11, Head Boy and Head Girl. These roles help pupils take responsibility, develop confidence, and lead initiatives that benefit the whole Academy.

Through this rich and inclusive programme, every pupil at Edgar Wood Academy is supported to belong, thrive and achieve, making the most of their talents, interests, and potential.

We are always interested in developing links with local providers and people in industry that would like to offer enrichment opportunities for our students.  For more information, contact our enrichment lead: Ms Becky Crawford r.crawford@edgarwood.org

At Edgar Wood Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every student can thrive, belong and achieve within an inclusive school community. The Fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance are integral to this commitment. These values are actively promoted across our curriculum, within our Personal Development programme, and throughout the daily life of our Academy.

Our values: respect, empathy, responsibility and resilience run alongside British Values to help our students grow into thoughtful, informed and compassionate citizens. By understanding and living these values, students learn to evaluate choices, act responsibly, and contribute positively to society in an inclusive and supportive environment.

British Values are embedded through curriculum planning, tutor time, assemblies, PSHCE, Citizenship, enrichment opportunities and pastoral care, ensuring all students recognise their relevance. Our subject teachers intentionally highlight where British Values appear within lessons, helping students see how these ideas shape learning and life beyond the classroom for all members of our inclusive community.

We also offer GCSE Citizenship, demonstrating our commitment to developing informed, active and inclusive citizens, prepared to participate confidently in modern Britain.

Democracy

- Election of student leadership roles (JLT) and Head Boy/Head Girl/Head Pupil positions, supported by inclusive student voice opportunities.

- Students are actively involved in the recruitment process of staff.

- Informal voting activities during form time and lessons.

- Exploration of democratic principles across the curriculum, assemblies and special projects.

- Celebrating achievements in lessons, on Celebration Slides and in assemblies.

- Fostering an environment where questions, opinions and dialogue are valued.

The Rule of Law

- Reinforcing the importance of laws across the school day in a fair, consistent and inclusive way.

- Teaching the reasons behind rules and consequences.

- Supporting students to distinguish right from wrong within a culture of fairness and empathy.

Individual Liberty

- Providing a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for informed decision-making.

- Teaching about rights, freedoms and staying safe with a carefully sequenced spiral PSHCE programme.

- Encouraging students to take ownership of their behaviour and choices.

- Supporting all students, including those with additional needs, to develop confidence in independent decision-making.

Mutual Respect

- Modelling respectful and inclusive interactions between students, staff and the wider community.

- Exploring respect in PSHCE, including healthy, inclusive friendships.

- Assemblies and tutor time focused on anti-bullying and empathy.

- Weekly assemblies centred on key issues, inspirational leaders and protected characteristics.

Tolerance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs

- Encouraging inclusive discussion around differences in PSHCE, RE and across subjects.

- Addressing prejudice-based bullying through form time and assemblies.

- Inter-faith reflections at the end of each assembly.

- Celebrating world faith days throughout the year.

- Hosting an annual Culture, Diversity and Equality Day.

- Promoting links with local faith leaders, communities and places of worship.

Charity Work and Social Action

Our students are given multiple opportunities throughout the year to be involved in charity work and social action. Our Year 9 Social Action Project, delivered through the First Give programme, encourages students to engage meaningfully with local charities. Students develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills while learning the power of social responsibility, empathy and collective action.

First Give Case Study:

https://firstgive.co.uk/inspiring-social-action-and-skills-development-at-edgar-wood-academy/

At Edgar Wood Academy, we believe that all students should be recognised, valued and celebrated for doing the right thing, every day. We have high expectations of all our pupils—in their behaviour, attitudes, organisation and learning—and it is important that their commitment to these expectations is rewarded. Our clear, consistent and inclusive rewards strategy ensures that every student has the opportunity to be praised for demonstrating our values of Respect, Responsibility, Resilience and Empathy, and for embodying our vision to belong, thrive and achieve.

We recognise and reward students not only for excellence, but for effort, improvement and personal growth, ensuring that success is accessible and achievable for all. This includes celebrating students who work hard to improve their attitudes towards learning, behaviour, attendance and progress, acknowledging that resilience, reflection and determination are central to long-term success.

We reward students for:

- Demonstrating our core values in lessons and around school

- Going above and beyond in their learning or behaviour

- Outstanding organisation and preparation for learning

- Academic excellence and sustained personal improvement

- Excellent attendance and punctuality

- Significant efforts to improve engagement, behaviour or progress

- Positive and inclusive contributions to school life and the wider community

Rewards Offer

Our rewards system is designed to be fair, inclusive and motivating, ensuring that all students can experience recognition in ways that are meaningful to them. We offer daily, weekly and termly opportunities for celebration, including:

Everyday Recognition

- Student of the Lesson awards

- Praise Points for demonstrating our values

- Postcards and emails home celebrating kindness, effort and achievement

- Queue Jump Passes

- Freddo Friday treats for outstanding weekly commitment

Milestone Rewards

- Praise Points Reward Badges:

  - Head of Year – Bronze

  - Senior Leadership Team – Silver

  - Headteacher – Gold

  - CEO – Platinum

- Curriculum Awards, certificates and prizes recognising subject excellence and improvement

- Form Tutor Awards each half term

- Head of Year Awards for outstanding contribution, character and progress

Celebration Events

- Huge Celebration Assembly each term

- Celebration Breakfasts with senior staff

- Zero Hero Events and Excellent Attendance events and film mornings

- Inflatables Days and reward activities for exceptional achievement

- Reward Trips, offering enriching and memorable experiences

These celebrations help students feel that they belong to a community in which their efforts, achievements and character are noticed and valued. Our inclusive approach ensures that all students—regardless of background, need or starting point—are given opportunities to thrive and are supported to achieve their very best.

Student Voice and Continuous Improvement

Our rewards strategy is reviewed annually by the Junior Leadership Team (JLT) to ensure that students have a meaningful voice in shaping how we recognise success. This commitment to inclusive student leadership ensures that our rewards remain relevant, motivating and reflective of what students value most.