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Wider Curriculum: Student Personal Development

Personal Development Curriculum 

At The Latimer Arts College our Personal Development Programme (PDP) dovetails into the curricular delivered by individual subjects, both complementing this content and delivering topics that are taught discretely. 

Our KS3 and 4 Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) programme and our Relationship and Sex Education programme (RSE) meets the statutory guidance and is delivered through our Personal Development Programme (PDP) and is continued into our KS5 Personal Development Programme.

We have adopted the Cre8tive Curriculum, through which we also strive to develop our students' Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC) understanding. 

On first implementing the curriculum, parents and carers were asked for their views on the content of our Relationship, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) Policy, including consulting with our Parent and Carer Forum.  Further consultation will occur if significant changes are introduced.   

In order to support parents and carers to engage with the topics that are being delivered, we publish a yearly overview of our curriculum; we publish a termly update in our newsletters; we routinely signpost parents and carers to supporting material in our fortnightly newsletter.

Should any parent or carer wish to express views on our Relationship, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) Policy or wish to have support in navigating these topics with their children, please contact Mr Tom McGuire, Progress Leader: Wider Curriculum: tmcguire@latimer.org.uk

Students have a variety of ways of expressing their views on the curriculum including: through their PDP session; our Student Voice email studentvoice@latimer.org.uk; and our Student Council. 

Cre8tive Curriculum

The Cre8tive Curriculum that our students follow is a spiral curriculum, where key themes are delivered and revisited as students progress through their Latimer journey, becoming more complex at the age appropriate time.   Each term covers one of six core themes:

  1. Rights and Responsibilities and British Values (RBV)
  2. Celebrating Diversity and Equality (CDE)
  3. Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)
  4. Staying Safe Online and Offline (SOO)
  5. Health and Wellbeing (H&W)
  6. Life Beyond School (LBS)

This programme is enhanced by our subscription to 'Votes for Schools' which supports students to have weekly impartial discussion on a challenging current issue, linked to our Cre8tive Curriculum themes.  This process of democracy in action supports our promotion of fundamental British values. 

To view our curriculum please click the links below: 

Key Stage 3 and 4 Student Personal Development Curriculum Year Overview

Key Stage 5 Student Personal Development Curriculum Year Overview

In addition to the curriculum as detailed above, we also plan in additional learning opportunities to support the personal development of our students: 

Our Assembly Programme

Our assemblies are diverse and seek to underpin the Personal Development Programme and promote and reinforce our values of Honesty, Excellence, Ambition, Respect and Teamwork.  Regular assemblies are delivered on topical issues.

Our Votes For Schools Programme

Votes for Schools is a weekly current affairs voting platform designed to engage our  young people in political and social issues. Through weekly debating and voting, not only are our young people learning about the world around them, they are becoming prepared for participating in democratic processes. Our students discuss a vote topic each week as part of their Personal Development Time, before then voting to share their personal and collective opinion.

VOTESFORSCHOOLS PARENT & CARER INFORMATION
VOTESFORSCHOOL TOPICS TERM 1-4

Our Religious and Cultural Studies Curriculum (RS)

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs is promoted in RS and Cultural Studies as our students gain a greater understanding of religious diversity and practices for those religions represented in the UK. Planning for RS is directed by the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE) - Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

Our Physical Education Curriculum (PE)

Our PE curriculum is a 'Concept' curriculum which promotes the acquisition of life skills through participation.  In addition, the promotion of the concept of “fair play”, following and developing rules, celebrating and rewarding success, accepting defeat and participating in activities that promote cooperation with others and inclusion for all, form an integral part of our PE curriculum.  

Involvement in key local and national events

Our wider curriculum programme is one that is frequently under review and responsive to the context of our school, the wider community and national and international contexts.  It is also adapted to ensure that it continues to meet the needs and interests of our students.  It is also based around both annual, recurring and unique events and includes activities such as:

  • Anti-Bullying Week
  • Black History Month
  • British Science Week 
  • Children in Need 
  • Comic Relief 
  • E:Safety Week
  • Mental Health Awareness Week
  • National Careers Week
  • Remembrance Day