Personal Development

Personal Development sits at the heart of our curriculum. It's delivered through six main strands.

1. PSHE

Through Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education at Heath, we provide students with the skills and knowledge to not only survive, but thrive in the wider world.

We support our students with a bespoke curriculum that gives them the ability to build healthy relationships of all kinds; to understand ways to be financially capable; to consider their role in the wider world and a knowledge of how to look after their mental and physical health and wellbeing.

Pupils will get the opportunity to participate in workshops run by external organisations as well as engaging with lessons focused around discussions and debate on topics relevant to their lives.

 Pupils will have lessons on a range of topics including:

• Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

• Healthy Lifestyles

• Relationships and Sex Education

• Safety (including Physical and Online Safety)

• Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco Education

• Economic Wellbeing

We use the Jigsaw Curriculum to deliver which also incorporates and promotes mental wellbeing through mindfulness practice.

2. Character Virtues

Heath character virtues sit at the heart of our offer. They are embedded within each lesson and celebrated on a daily basis through our ‘shout outs’.

We recognise the importance of development of students across the five character virtues if they are to succeed both in school and beyond. 

3. The Prince’s Trust 

The Prince’s Trust ‘Personal Development and Employability Skills’ qualification is offered to all students.

Students work towards units such as Teamwork and Personal Development, with this delivered alongside our Active Learning offer. This accreditation highlights the importance of holistic development of our students, rather than the purely academic.

4. Active Learning

Active Learning affords students the opportunity to have experiences that they may otherwise not have had.

Through this, they are challenged, beyond the academic, to demonstrate the Agincourt character virtues. 

The Prince’s Trust qualification is delivered through Active Learning, with skills such as ‘teamwork’ and ‘community impact’ focused on and developed. It fosters students’ metacognitive and self-regulatory skills, builds resilience and nurtures aspirations

5. Vocational Curriculum

Students are exposed to a range of BTEC Level 1 qualifications through our vocational  curriculum offer. This includes:

• Hair and Beauty

• Construction

• Sport

• Performing Arts

• Art and Design

• Vocational Studies

Exposure to a range of vocational subjects fosters student engagement and interest in possible post-16 destinations. Accreditation in these additional supports students with their progression to Level 2 qualifications when leaving Heath School.

6. Careers

Our careers team works to support students with their progression from Heath School to their post-16 destinations:

1. Work experience set up for KS4

2. Connexions careers meetings

3. Personal progression plans constructed with each student

4. Students provided with professional clothing through ‘suited and booted’ charity

5. Visits conducted to colleges with Year 11 students 

6. Year 12 placement support offered through careers lead