Our personal development curriculum at Bredon Hill Academy is a whole school experience. It extends far beyond the academic, providing for all pupils' broader development, enabling them to discover new interests and talents.  It includes character education, developing resilience, confidence and fostering independence, alongside keeping physically and mentally healthy. Crucially, it also prepares our pupils for life in modern Britain by equipping them to be responsible, respectful and active citizens, who will contribute positively to society, understand fundamental British values, celebrate difference and respect the different protected characteristics as defined by law.  

Personal Development is carefully planned at Bredon Hill Academy and its impact evaluated. It includes assemblies, educational visits, cultural capital discussions in lessons, student council sessions, extracurricular clubs, Friday afternoon enrichment lessons, form time and intervention sessions. 

In the 2025/26 academic year, Bredon Hill Academy launched its first Eisteddfod - a celebration of the creative talents and problem-solving skills for all of our pupils to participate in.  It featured over 1000 entries and culminated in a memorable evening celebrating pupil participation and excellence. We also offer opportunities to perform in music concerts inside and outside the school and pupils have the opportunity to perform in an annual school musical production. 

Personal Development covers the following areas:

• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education, including Relationships and Sex Education
• Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural Education
• Fundamental British Values: Democracy, Individual Liberty, the Rule of Law and Mutual Respect and Tolerance
• Citizenship Education
• Careers Education

Our Personal Development Curriculum has, at its foundation, a structured programme of PSHE lessons that are timetabled for every year group. In addition to this, many elements of Personal Development are embedded throughout the curriculum, helping our students become well-rounded, confident individuals with the knowledge and skills and enriched experience needed to embrace their next ambitions and exciting steps. Our school values of Belief, Honesty and Aspiration are woven through our Personal Development curriculum, enabling pupils to develop their views, their respect for others in society and to have an appetite for challenge in the world in which they live to lead, happy, healthy lives.

Our curriculum is progressive, relevant and responsive to the needs of our students. There are core strands that run through the programme: relationships and sex education (RSHE), mental health and well-being, careers, keeping safe, financial education and citizenship.

Flexible learning days enhance this programme and extend the learning, for example, a ‘Step into the NHS’ day to extend careers learning across the school or our ‘Learn to Earn’ day providing the opportunity to learn about managing finances.

Extracurricular opportunities allow students to discover and showcase their talents through House events that encourage creativity, embrace diversity and foster support for one another.

Friday afternoon Enrichment lessons enhance our curriculum further, allowing pupils to develop their leadership skills through sports leaders or develop practical skills such as first aid as well as developing strategies to promote their mental health.

Our range of lunchtime extracurricular activities allows all pupils to experience a wide range of activities to suit many different interests as well as encouraging new opportunities such as bird watching and coding. Our House system provides numerous opportunities for collaborative and friendly competition through the likes of interhouse sports, arts, creative writing and STEM activities and events. 

Taskmaster drop-down days and half-termly challenges are set to develop pupils' problem-solving skills, collaboration and resilience skills, as well as supporting positive mental health. 

Pupils are encouraged to develop their leadership skills through taking on roles of responsibility throughout the school such as being a prefect, sports leader, school council rep, or head gardener. 

We continue to build links with outside agencies and businesses to help deliver our curriculum and want to ensure the best possible outcome for every student.

By the end of Year 8 when pupils move to the next stage in their educational journey, they will:

• Demonstrate a healthy outlook towards education, helping with excellent attendance and behaviour
• Have a good understanding of healthy relationships and friendships and know how to keep themselves safe.
• Understand and be able to demonstrate the British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual Respect, Rule of Law and Liberty and understand the importance of the Protected Characteristics.
• Have developed emotional resilience.
• Have developed ‘essential skills’ of team work, listening, speaking, staying positive, aiming high, problem solving and creativity - helping them in their journey towards work and life in modern Britain.

Last Updated: September 2026