Personal Development
What is Personal Development
At the Romsey School we pride ourselves on ensuring that our students learn skills and realise their talents, develop character and resilience, and learn about British values, diversity and mental health & well-being. We also aim to ensure that our young people develop confidence.
What does this look like at The Romsey School?
The aims above are achieved within the academic curriculum and also within the extensive range of wider opportunities available to our young people.
Our Weekly Tutor Programme
In addition to the taught PSHE programme(s), tutors also follow a weekly schedule during tutor time which is designed to be the first lesson of the day, 'warming the students up' for the day with interesting content to enhance their understanding of current issues, British Values and their own Habits of Mind. Similarly, all students learn about current topical issues each week through Votes for Schools’. The Assembly programme is mapped out in order to meet the needs of our students and it brings them current, topical and relevant input which is designed to make them think deeply.
Our PSHE Curriculum
Personal, Social, Health & Finance Education - We are really proud of our PSHE programme which is taught to all students in Years 7, 8 and 9 every fortnight and to Year 10 every week.
The PSHE team of specialist teachers constantly update the PSHE curriculum to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our young people and the changing world in which they find themselves. Students contribute to the discussions around what they need to learn.
Topics currently include keeping mentally well, healthy relationships, keeping safe online, consent, eliminating bullying and child-on-child abuse, and financial management.
Leadership Opportunities
We are committed to enhancing our students’ leadership skills and behaviours. Students can take part in:
- ‘Student Voice’ - Students can be elected by their tutor group peers to seek and represent their views at Student Voice meetings. Our young people also co-create the agenda for the regular meetings so that they can look at key issues that directly affect them.
- ‘Focus Groups’ such as the Student Leaders of Learning (for Teaching and Learning), The Charity Group and the Environment Group.
- Being an ‘Ambassador’ which includes Year 11 Prefects, Year 10 Peer Supporters, School Librarians, Sports Captains, Year 8 Tour Guides, a Staff Interviewer, an Anti-Bullying Ambassador (as part of the Diana Award), and Primary School Ambassadors.
- Whole Student Surveys to hear the ‘Student Voice’ around key school decisions. These are open to all students and we want as much feedback as possible.
- Each year we appoint four Head Students and a team of Senior Prefects which are high profile leadership roles from within the student body. All students who take part in leadership opportunities can apply and submit evidence for a National Accreditation in Student Leadership with the SSAT at either Bronze, Silver or Gold level. We have had numerous examples of great success in this area.
British Culture and Diversity
The school prides itself on its diversity. For example, we celebrate the fact that our student body is made up of students who speak thirty-six different languages (from Albanian to Swahili) representing many different cultures.
We also place a high importance on other British Values such as enabling pupils to distinguish right from wrong and to respect civil and criminal law. These values are written into our PSHE curriculum. We also encourage pupils to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and to understand how they can contribute positively to the lives of others both locally and nationally.
SMSC
Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development (SMSC)
We promote tolerance and harmony between different traditions by enabling pupils to appreciate and respect their own and other cultures. This variety adds a great richness to our school and enhances everyone’s understanding and empathy.
