Personal Development

Learning Beyond Qualifications  

Alongside our determination for students to achieve academic success, we are ambitious for our students to be happy, respectful and kind people. We have carefully considered how our students will develop the attributes that do not appear explicitly in examinations, but which we know to be desirable in participating positively in society: manners, acceptance, respect and kindness, empathy, communication, collaboration and leadership. 

Our Personal Development Curriculum has been carefully planned to enrich the subject curriculum by providing opportunities for students to learn about current events, mental health and wellbeing, great works of literature, dance, art and theatre, careers and national and international events. By introducing a wide range of inspiring people across the curriculum, we hope to encourage our students to celebrate diversity and develop empathy and compassion for others as they develop a sense of their own unique identity.

Additionally, in each subject, our departments have considered how teachers will support our students' personal development by identifying opportunities in the curriculum where students will be prepared for life in modern Britain. By learning how each of us can contribute to the societies in which we live and work, we aim for students to leave Uplands Academy with inner confidence, resilience and independence to enable them to successfully adapt to challenges both now and in the future. 

Our Personal Development curriculum includes assemblies, dedicated personal development time in tutor groups every morning and additional opportunities that are available to students within and beyond their lessons.

The overarching aim of the assemblies at Uplands Academy is to help students develop into positive members of society who are motivated, ambitious, respectful and knowledgeable about society and culture. We consider what has happened in the past and what is happening now; we learn about issues that affect people locally and around the world; we introduce inspiring people who have overcome challenges, advanced equality, or enhanced life for others.

Through the assemblies, we provide a weekly opportunity to reflect on the qualities and experiences that make each of us unique and we promote diversity as essential to humanity. We seek to encourage students to reflect on their own ideas and beliefs, to understand and appreciate contributions from people who are different from them and to learn how to cooperate with others peacefully and effectively. The assemblies provide opportunities to learn from inspiring people who have lived before us, to find out about career opportunities, to reflect on ways to keep ourselves healthy physically and mentally and to appreciate the freedoms and laws that we have.

To view our Personal Development Curriculum please click here