At Willow Park, we believe that personal development is the foundation of our vision, values and core purpose of the school. This statement covers all areas within the school that encompass and promote aspects of Personal Development at Heritage Park and provides a broad overview of how they implement this.

Willow Park School is holistic in its approach, with all staff having a responsibility to guide and support pupils in all areas of their school life in order for them to become well-rounded and active citizens.

Willow Park School’s approach to personal development is founded on the school’s vision and values: Respect, Acceptance, Kindness, Tolerance, Learn, Achieve.

"At Willow Park, we strive to create a nurturing environment built on positive and effective relationships which will instil in our students the belief that they are deserving of care, respect and love.

This will empower them to demonstrate acceptance of themselves and others so that they can show kindness, tolerance and understanding.

Students will learn and grow so they can achieve their aspirations and make a positive contribution to society."

It is the aim of the school that all pupils:

• Become responsible, respectful and active citizens who are able to thrive in their communities.
• Develop an understanding of the fundamental British Values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance. Pupils recognise their responsibility to uphold these values.
• Nurture pupils to develop personal character, reflect on choices, be ready to learn, behave positively and develop relationships which enable them to accept and tolerate others.
• Build confidence, resilience and knowledge so that they can keep themselves mentally healthy.
• Understand how to keep physically healthy, eat healthily and maintain an active lifestyle.
• Age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships through appropriate relationships and sex education.
• Recognise online and offline risks to their wellbeing – for example, risks from criminal, sexual exploitation, gang activity and radicalisation.
• Recognise the dangers of inappropriate use of mobile technology and social media 
• Prepare pupils for their next life stage.
• Develop their Emotional Literacy and Social Awareness through exposure to social situations

As a school, personal development is promoted by: 

• Understanding that all pupils are different and removing barriers so pupils can engage in activities to gain confidence and thrive together, understanding that difference is a positive, not a negative, and that individual characteristics make people unique.
• An inclusive environment that meets the needs of all pupils.
• Provide opportunities for pupils to be active during the school day and through extra-curricular activities.

PSHE

At Willow Park School our PHSE curriculum aims to:

• Fostering respect and understanding through relational practice, our school provides secure learning environments that positively shape the quality of students' lives for the long term.
• Create a language-rich environment where we actively encourage every student to recognise their significance, fostering an environment where their voices matter and through discussion their ideas are shared and valued by all.
• Teaching all students about healthy relationships, equipping them with the skills to aspire to and contribute to safe, happy and secure family lives.
• To ensure the well-being of our students, we provide guidance on emotional and physical health, empowering them to care for themselves and others.
• Provide opportunities to develop independence skills, emphasising the importance of collaboration and community. Pupils are also encouraged to be confident in accessing support when needed, ensuring they can strive for their personal best.

RSE

RSE involves learning about relationships, sexual health, sexuality, healthy lifestyles, diversity and personal identity. It also provides input to support the emotional, social and cultural development of students as well as prepare them for the changes that occur to their bodies, minds and emotions as a consequence of growth from childhood to adulthood. It is lifelong learning about moral and emotional development. It is also about the importance of a stable and loving relationship for family life, respect, love and care. It is not about the promotion of sexual orientation or sexual activity – this would be inappropriate. We have a duty under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure our teaching is accessible to all our children and young people, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+). Our inclusive sex and relationship education fosters good relationships between students, tackles all types of prejudice – including homophobia – and promotes understanding and respect. Sex and Relationships Education is delivered within the aims and philosophy of the Trust and the agreed framework for the overall pastoral care of the students. Teachers will establish what is appropriate for one-to-one and whole-class settings, and alter their teaching of the programme accordingly.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC)

At Willow Park School, SMSC is personalised for all our pupils and interwoven throughout the school’s curriculum and wider offer.

Spiritual development is when we:

Explore beliefs and experiences; respect faiths, feelings and values; enjoy learning about oneself, others and the surrounding world; use imagination and creativity; reflect.

Moral development is when we:

Recognise right and wrong; respect the law; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues; offer reasoned views.

Social development is when we:

Use a range of social skills; participate in the local community; appreciate diverse viewpoints; participate, volunteer and cooperate; resolve conflict; engage with the 'British values' of democracy, the rule of law, liberty, respect and tolerance.

Cultural development is when we:

Appreciate cultural influences; appreciate the role of Britain's parliamentary system; participate in cultural opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.

In our school, pupils' SMSC development can be seen, for example, in:

• Taking part in a range of activities regarding social skills
• Developing an awareness and respect for diversity
• Developing and appreciation of theatre
• Developing an understanding of right and wrong
• Developing the communication skills to make choices about likes/dislikes in school then in wider community visits
• Taking part in sporting, cultural and artistic opportunities

SMSC is embedded throughout the curriculum at Willow Park.  This integrated approach ensures that aspects of SMSC are considered in all subject curriculum areas.

Beyond the Curriculum

We are also committed as a school to developing SMSC beyond the curriculum. This is done through:

• Sport, Arts, Music and Cultural Specialists visit schools throughout the year.
• Assemblies give pupils an opportunity to explore aspects of SMSC.
• As part of the KS4 Arts qualification, pupils are exposed to local artists, events and speakers.
• Provide an outdoor learning experience for all pupils in the school.