At Castle Donington College, our Personal Development curriculum is designed to equip our pupils with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe and to prepare them for life and work in Modern Britain. We want our pupils to thrive as individuals, family members and members of the wider society.

Our pupils are encouraged to live healthy, safe, productive, capable, responsible and balanced lives. They are encouraged to grow and develop, whilst being supported in making effective decisions, positive career choices and in achieving economic wellbeing. They are provided with opportunities to reflect on and clarify their own values and attitudes; they also explore the complex and conflicting range of values and attitudes they are likely to encounter both now and in the future.

Our broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum has been planned to meet the needs of our pupils and is tailored to our individual context. It’s primary aims are to help pupils to:

• Identify their personal qualities, attitudes, skills, attributes and achievements and what influences these.
• Explore their attitudes, values and beliefs about them and develop the skills, language and strategies needed to manage any issues should they encounter them in their lives.
• Apply academic skills such as critical thinking and resilience, to their approach to the study of Personal Development.
• Promote pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
• Equip all pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe and be able to communicate when they do not feel safe.
• Provide expert independent, up-to-date careers' guidance that gives our pupils the best information and opportunities available and helps them progress into further education, training and employment.

Personal Development (PSHE) is taught by a team of passionate, specialist teachers. Pupils receive a one-hour lesson of Personal Development per week. Some PSHE topics are taught within other subjects, especially Computing, English, Maths and Science (for example, the teaching of e-safety within Computing lessons). This is to capitalise on the specialisms, passion and expertise of our experienced teaching team. Careers sessions are delivered during tutor time by tutors and careers education is further supported by the wider school curriculum and external partnerships. There are a range of other events and opportunities, including assemblies and extra-curricular activities, that supplement the personal development curriculum further.