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Personal Development
At The Bulmershe School we recognise the personal development of students is a fundamental part of our academic and pastoral work. It is our intention to create good local, national and global citizens, who develop good character and resilience. To this end, we aim to develop students spiritually, morally, socially and culturally and ensure that they are treated as individuals whilst doing this. We aim to teach students about British values, mutual respect and tolerance.
Our Personal Development programme is developed so that the school:
- consistently goes ‘the extra mile’ to promote the personal development of pupils, so that they have access to a rich set of experiences.
- The school provides these rich experiences in a coherently planned way, in the curriculum and through extra-curricular activities, and they considerably strengthen the school’s offer. (OFSTED 2019)
Core guiding principles of our Personal Development Plan is based around embedding our four core values in our school ethos
- Responsibility
- Respect
- Resilience
- Health and Safety
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Stands |
Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
Year 10 |
Year 11 |
Year 12 |
Year 13 |
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Tutor Time (30 minutes) |
Tutor time is the bed rock of our PD system and our school focus of developing literacy. We believe in the importance of the role of the tutor in helping develop character and preparing our students with the skills to be successful in modern Britain Personal Development LTP Catch Up |
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Tutor time
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Tutor time consists of five sessions covering: PD, Life Skills, Guided Reading, Drop everything and read and Assembly. We have specialist sessions to cover topics more in depth with each tutor group such as mindfulness and contraception |
Tutor time consists of five sessions covering: PD, Careers, assembly and 2x independent study |
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Assemblies |
Assembly rota which covers British Values, Student voice feedback, year group specific challenges and School values |
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Careers |
Transition projects to support new cohort |
Careers advice for options through drop down day and individual interviews. |
Independent careers advice via Wokingham Careers Fair |
Work Experience |
Group sessions on destinations and industry specific pathways run as drop down event |
Up to 5 days allowed for related work experience, university and conferences |
UCAS/ Apprenticeship and next steps guidance via tutor time and PD sessions. |
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Careers |
Careers Pilot website with individual logins for all students and parents. The use of this programme is included in the form time programme Careers appointments - individual appointments for those needing more assistance in securing the destination of their choice. Careers and raising aspirations coordinator in place to oversee this work |
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Raising Aspirations |
Drop down events and trips across all year groups specifically to raise the aspirations of our students. Disadvantaged children our prioritised for these events. |
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Outdoor Education and Character Building |
We believe in the importance of outdoor education throughout secondary schooling. We believe it builds characteristics such as resilience, leadership and respect and think that it also can help students to develop healthy mentally. We offer whole school trips such as the Ski trip which runs every two years and is open to all year groups. |
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School Camp every summer with Bushcraft Company. |
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze is included as part of the curriculum |
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NCS – As a school we have a high take up of students involved. |
Duke of Edinburgh Silver is included as an optional part of the curriculum. World Challenge is offered every two years |
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Ivory Drop In and |
Help, support and advice for all year groups. Specialised work with groups and individuals which help prepare them for life in modern Britain. |
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Student voice |
Run by the sixth form to create a system for students to have their voice heard. Each tutor group has a representative who meets with their year group council. The sixth formers feed back to leadership and assemblies feeding back to all students are held each half term |
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Extracurricular Activities |
We run an eclectic programme of extracurricular activities at lunchtime and afterschool which are attended well by students. Some of our Sport, Music and Drama clubs are performing at the highest level including national representation. |
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Trips |
Throughout the year there is a broad range of trips for every year group which are attended by a diverse student population. There are different types of trips such as Curriculum, Extracurricular, Rewards and Raising Aspirations. |
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Drop Down Events |
Throughout the year we have a varied programme of drop-down events to cover specific PD content such as consent, alcohol and raising aspirations delivered by outside groups |
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PD/ SMSC across the curriculum |
We believe PD should be delivered across the curriculum and that opportunities to teach PD topics must be taken within subjects. This is planned into Schemes of Work for every subject. Please view subject information pages. |
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Mental Health Champions |
Two members of staff are mental health champions who look at how we deliver mental health across the curriculum and within the personal development programme highlighting student wellbeing and the importance of mental health awareness via mental health week in May. |
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