Personal Development

At The John Warner School, our Personal Development curriculum is made up of; RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education), PRE (Philosophy, Religion & Ethics) Citizenship, Careers, British Values and SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) Education. It is designed to empower students to be respectful, responsible, and caring individuals. We aim to equip them with the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to navigate relationships, make safe choices, and embrace diversity in modern Britain. 

Our curriculum is informed by: 

• The RSHE Statutory Government Guidelines (2026) 
• The PSHE Association Programme of Study 
• A wide range of high-quality published and bespoke resources covering all statutory content 

What do students learn?

We have established a systematic and coherent framework that spans the educational journey from Year 7 to Year 13. Students in Years 7 through 13 receive one timetabled Personal Development lesson each fortnight, with additional PD activities facilitated during form time. These engaging sessions cover short PSHE topics and include reflection tasks aimed at promoting critical thinking around personal and social issues. Our PSHE curriculum covers a broad range of age-appropriate topics, including:

• Relationships and Sex Education (RSHE) – healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, respect and personal safety.
• Health and Wellbeing – physical and mental health, emotional wellbeing, resilience, healthy lifestyles and managing stress.
• Keeping Safe – online safety, risk-taking, exploitation, peer pressure and safeguarding.
• Personal Development – self-esteem, confidence, identity, aspirations and making positive choices.
• Citizenship and British Values – democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance.
• Financial and Economic Education – money management, budgeting, careers, employment and financial responsibility.
• Relationships and Diversity – understanding difference, equality, inclusion, Protected Characteristics and challenging discrimination.
• Preparation for Life Beyond School – careers, independence, decision-making and the skills needed for future education, employment and adult life.

Topics are carefully sequenced across each year group so that students revisit key themes and build their understanding as they progress through school.

RSHE

Relationships, Sex and Health Education forms an important statutory part of our PSHE curriculum. Students receive age-appropriate teaching that helps them understand healthy relationships, respect, consent, personal boundaries, physical and emotional health, and how to keep themselves and others safe.

Parents and carers are encouraged to engage with their child's learning and can find further information about the content of our RSHE programme, relevant policies and statutory guidance through the links below.

RSHE Policy
DfE RSHE Guidance

Supporting Personal Development at Home

Parents and carers play an important role in supporting their child's personal development. We encourage families to talk openly about topics covered in PSHE and to create opportunities for children to ask questions and share their experiences.

Useful conversations might include:

• How to build healthy and respectful relationships.
• Looking after physical and mental wellbeing.
• Staying safe online and offline.
• Managing money and making responsible financial decisions.
• Dealing with peer pressure and making positive choices.
• Understanding diversity, equality and respect.
• Preparing for future education, employment and adult life.

Personal Development learning extends beyond the classroom. Throughout the year, students may take part in assemblies, workshops, awareness events, external speaker sessions, careers activities and themed school events. These opportunities help students apply their learning to real-life situations and develop confidence in discussing important issues.

Assessment and Progress

PSHE is assessed through a combination of student reflection, questioning, discussion, activities and knowledge checks. Teachers monitor students' understanding and progress throughout the year, while curriculum reviews and student voice help us evaluate the quality and impact of PSHE provision.