Rationale

Personal Development Learning (PDL) has a greater role to play than ever before in facilitating a young person’s development and sense of identity as a citizen of Britain and the World. At a time of rapid change, students need to develop a keen sense of their own identity and consider how they relate to the people, environment and institutions around them from the past and present, from the local and global, and from the physical and spiritual. The mass media and wealth of information that is available at a touch of a button necessitates that young people are able to critically examine information in the pursuit of truth. In preparation for adult life, the curriculum areas play a vital role in developing young peoples’ ability to make skilful and moral considerations as healthy consumers in a caring and mutually respectful society.

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Personal Development Learning ACROSS the Curriculum

A student’s Personal Development is at the heart of everything we do as a school community as captured by our 3 core values of Kindness, Ambition and Diligence. Personal Development is therefore an implicit part of every lesson, school-related activity and planned-for interaction. There are also opportunities for Personal Development to be explicitly addressed in such times as Personal Development Lessons (once per fortnight), Assemblies and other Whole School events. Each week, Tutors lead their Tutor Group through a reflection on a topical theme, often in the News, that is deliberately rooted and brought back to Universal Values.

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Curriculum Overview

At Crofton Secondary School, Personal Development Learning (PDL) is far more than a discrete curriculum offer. It is a whole-school commitment, reinforced through Tutor Time, assemblies and subject teaching, and underpinned by our core principles of Competence, Autonomy and Relatedness — the foundations of a balanced, healthy and resilient young person.

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Our comprehensive curriculum audit confirms that key PDL themes - Consent, Inclusion & Respect, Digital Literacy and Careers - are embedded across subject areas in a planned, progressive and age-appropriate way.

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Consent - Agency, Boundaries and Power​

Beyond discrete PDL lessons, students explore themes of consent and power across a range of curriculum contexts.

• English and Humanities examine agency, power structures and relationship dynamics through literary texts and historical case studies.

• Science explores healthy relationships and the risks associated with imbalances of power alongside physical and mental wellbeing.

• Computing addresses digital consent, privacy, data use and the ethics of emerging technologies.

​Through this cross-curricular approach, students understand consent not only in interpersonal relationships, but also in wider societal and digital contexts.

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Inclusion & Respect – Diversity, Equality and Social Responsibility

Themes of inclusion are embedded through the study of diverse cultures, beliefs, identities and social movements. Across subjects:

• English and History explore issues of identity, equality, protest and representation.

• Religious Education and Humanities consider prejudice, human rights and moral responsibility.

• The Arts and Physical Education provide opportunities to examine representation, barriers to participation and the influence of social factors.

​This work reinforces our clear stance in addressing national concerns around sexism, misogyny and discrimination. It actively promotes empathy, critical thinking and respect for others.

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Digital Literacy & Online Responsibility

In response to national priorities, Digital Literacy is a strong feature of our wider curriculum.

• Computing and IT address social media awareness, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, algorithmic bias and responsible online behaviour.

• Wider curriculum discussions reinforce respectful conduct and challenge harmful language or behaviour, both online and offline.

• A whole-school initiative empowers students to move from passive observers to active bystanders when witnessing harmful behaviour.

 

Careers & Preparation for the Future

Careers education is woven throughout subject teaching (Gatsby 4), helping students connect their learning to life beyond school. In addition to regular “Job Weeks” we ensure that:

• Mathematics develops financial literacy and economic awareness.

• Science and Technology highlight career pathways linked directly to curriculum content.

• Languages, Humanities and the Arts develop transferable skills such as communication, analysis and creativity, while also exploring related career routes.

​A plethora of Career opportunities from Years 7-11 further strengthens this provision by providing focused encounters with employers, further education providers and industry professionals.

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A Strategic and Embedded Approach

Importantly, this is not incidental coverage. Departments have carefully mapped relevant PDL themes into their Schemes of Work to ensure consistency, reinforcement and clear progression across year groups. Some themes are explicitly taught; others are thoughtfully embedded within broader curriculum study. It reflects a shared commitment across the school to ensure our young people are equipped with the knowledge, confidence and character to navigate relationships, diversity, digital spaces and future opportunities successfully.​​