Personal Development Curriculum

At Judgemeadow Community College our holistic work is underpinned by the HEART values that we build our school around: Happiness, Excellence, Ambition, Respect and Teamwork. 

Our curriculum also provides students with a voice, so they can share opinions and views in a respectful but confident manner. Our young people experience this rich and diverse learning experience through our carefully curated Personal Development Curriculum (PDC). PDC covers all areas of personal development, including PSHE, RSE, CEIAG, citizenship, SMSC, with key themes such as character development and the fundamental British values embedded throughout.

We champion diversity and inclusion and routinely teach students about the protected characteristics, and how they link to reducing discrimination.

Pupils discuss aspects of life that are critical to the future of our society, and explore their feelings in a safe and protective learning environment.

PDC is delivered by our excellent tutor teams who are pupil-centred and positive, ensuring our learners become the best version of themselves.

The Personal Development Curriculum is designed to have width and breadth, to ensure students are ready for their next steps in life. Our learning is split into three distinct blocks, interleaving topics as to maximise learning. Key learning strategies such as retrieval practice and elaboration are woven through the curriculum, enabling knowledge to remain ‘sticky’.

Lessons are sequenced in an age-appropriate manner and topics build upon one another across the scheme. Regular assessment points help us to identify where progress has been achieved, and where further progress could be made.

Within lessons, students will cover topic areas that spark debate, topic areas that are sensitive and topic areas they will require as soon as they leave school.  We actively encourage students to participate in their learning, and to make morally just decisions. To facilitate this, all learning begins with creating a safe and respectful learning environment with clear ground rules. Learning ends with signposting, so learners know where to receive further support, even with the most challenging issues.

Whilst having a common curriculum across our network of schools secures student understanding, no matter which school they attend, our curriculum is ever-changing to respond to the demands and needs of our local communities and wider society. We are committed to providing students with the best education possible, and therefore must prepare them for the society they will enter. Learners receive impartial advice and guidance on key issues that are affecting the wider world, and are given time to reflect on the bigger picture. Our PDC curriculum is complimented with a termly Global Issues programme and, in Judgemeadow Community College, a weekly PDC Bitesize in form. This provides our students with multiple opportunities to consider ideas from the largest issues humankind faces today to local safeguarding threats and thereby provides pupils with the most up-to-date knowledge and information to thrive in their future.