Personal Development is at the heart of everything we do at Southmoor Academy because we recognise it as essential in enabling students to learn and achieve.
At Southmoor Academy, in partnership with parents and carers, we believe that we have a responsibility to prepare students for success in their ongoing education or career, and for life in modern Britain.
The curriculum we provide extends beyond the academic, technical or vocational, and we are committed to also educating students about how to be responsible citizens.
Personal Development is carefully planned and considered so that it provides students with the knowledge that they need to make decisions, strengthen them personally, and contribute to building their character.
Personal development permeates the curriculum, assembly programme, special one-off events, ASPIRE lessons and ASPIRE AM (form time activities). The academy provides a myriad of ways for students to explore and develop morally, socially, spiritually and culturally.
The elements that make up personal development at Southmoor are derived from the statutory RSHE (Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education) curriculum, suggested PSHE Association curriculum and SMSC from the British Values statement.
Our lead teachers for Personal Development in school are Mr S. Wareham (Assistant Headteacher: Student Progression) and Mrs L. Mellefont (Assistant Headteacher: Admissions & Engagement). Should you wish to speak to either teachers about Personal Development at Southmoor Academy then please contact the school office.
Aspire
Aspire
One of the main ways that we prepare young people for the next step in their education and their later employment is through a comprehensive and thoroughly planned ASPIRE programme.
Our ASPIRE programme currently provides many elements of PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education) which is an important and necessary part of all students’ education. The Department for Education states that all schools should teach PSHE, and it is delivered as part of our core curriculum, with all students receiving one lesson a week from Y7-Y13.
We use our ASPIRE programme to equip students with a sound understanding of risk and with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions. You can access information about the curriculum we deliver to each year group here and will see that we include and build upon the statutory guidance in order to reflect both the universal needs of young people, and the unique needs identified in our school community.
By working closely with our SEND department we ensure that as part of the planning and delivery of all lessons, adaptations are made for students with additional needs so that all students can access the sessions.
RSHE (Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education) is a statutory element of every students’ education and this is taught throughout the ASPIRE programme and beyond in other curriculum areas.
Click here to find our full Relationships, Sex Education (RSE), Health Education and PSHCE Policies.
Aspire AM
Aspire AM
ASPIRE AM takes place from 8.30am to 8.50am where students are with their form tutors upon arrival in school every morning. During this time, students and their form tutors take part in a programme which compliments and strengthens further what is being learned in ASPIRE.
Each half term is dedicated to building key characteristics:
Every week there is also an ASPIRE Theme of the Week which is based around celebration days, current events both in the local community and in the wider world, responding to immediate needs in the school community, and to fulfil any gaps in our ASPIRE curriculum. Each Theme of the Week links into the overall key characteristic for that half term.
Within ASPIRE AM, each week:
- Year group assembly
- ASPIRE Theme of the Week and Assembly follow-up activity
- Opportunity to read the Southmoor Blog and to learn about current affairs.
- Numeracy and Literacy
- Mentoring
SMSC
SMSC
SMSC is Spiritural, Moral, Social and Cultural Education. At Southmoor Academy, we are keen to promote all four of these important values so that we help produce well rounded individuals that go on to be balanced citizens and valued members of society.
Southmoor currently holds the Gold Award for The National SMSC Quality Mark.
Spiritual EducationSpiritual Education
Pupils’ spiritual development is shown by their:
- Beliefs, religious or otherwise, which inform their perspective on life & their interest in & respect for different people’s feelings & values
- Sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning about themselves, others and the world around them, including the intangible
- Use of imagination and creativity in their learning
- Willingness to reflect on their experience.
Moral EducationMoral Education
Pupils’ moral development is shown by their:
- Ability to recognise the difference between right and wrong and their readiness to apply this understanding in their own lives
- Understanding of the consequences of their actions
- Interest in investigating and offering reasoned views about moral and ethical issues
Social EducationSocial Education
Pupils’ social development is shown by their:
- Use of a range of social skills in different contexts, including working and socialising with pupils from different religious, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds
- Willingness to participate in a variety of social settings, cooperating well with others and being able to resolve conflicts effectively
- Interest in, and understanding of, the way communities and societies function at a variety of levels
Cultural EducationCultural Education
Pupils’ cultural development is shown by their: Unchanged: Pupils’ cultural development is shown by their:
- Understanding and appreciation of the wide range of cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage
- Willingness to participate in, and respond to, for example, artistic, musical, sporting, mathematical, technological, scientific and cultural opportunities
- Interest in exploring, understanding of, and respect for cultural diversity and the extent to which they understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity, as shown by their attitudes towards different religious, ethnic and socio-economic groups in the local, national and global communities
At Southmoor Academy, we are keen to promote all four of these important values so that we help produce well rounded individuals that go on to be balanced citizens and valued members of society. Our lead teacher for RSHE, SMSC and PSHE at Southmoor Academy is Mr S. Wareham (Assistant Headteacher: Student Progression). Should you wish to speak to him about SMSC at Southmoor Academy then please contact the school office.View our Policy Section to find our full SMSC and British Values policy.
Citizenship
Citizenship
All students receive a high-quality citizenship education that helps to provide them with knowledge, skills and understanding to prepare them to play a full and active part in society. In particular, citizenship education aims to foster students’ keen awareness and understanding of democracy, government and how laws are made and upheld. Students are equipped with the skills and knowledge to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, debate and make reasoned arguments. It also prepares pupils to take their place in society as responsible citizens, manage their money well and make sound financial decisions.
Citizenship is taught to students through the ASPIRE programme (see information about the ASPIRE curriculum on this page), but citizenship also embodies the ethos of everyday life at Southmoor Academy. Students are encouraged to play an active role in the school, through the student council and many other roles that students can play in the running, decision-making and tracking of school life and progress. During lessons students are regularly provided with opportunities to consider the views of others, weigh evidence and articulate reasoned responses.
Through our teaching of citizenship we promote fundamental British values as part of students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) development. You can find out more about both on this page.
Fundamental British Values
Promoting British Values at Southmoor Academy
Teaching British values at our school is an important way to enable students to embrace the key values that they need to be equipped for life in modern British society. Students at our school develop self-knowledge, are better able to make the right choices and make contributions to the wider school and their community by studying and promoting the British values of: democracy; the rule of law; individual liberty; mutual respect; and acceptance for those with different faiths and beliefs.
The DfE has recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and acceptance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”
The Government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these five values will be reiterated this academic year.
View our Policy Section to find our full SMSC and British Values policy.
British Values are taught explicitly as part of the ASPIRE curriculum. Topics studied include: what are the British Values?; understanding modern Britain; Morals & Ethics; Stewardship; the UK Government and Parliament; Crime & Punishment; Law & Order; Diversity and Prejudice; Human Rights and Community Cohension.
In addition, British Values are taught throughout our school curriculum in every subject area.
DemocracyDemocracy
The school has a Student Council which meets on regular occasions. This Student Council is elected by the student body and consists of students from each year group, ensuring that there is a breadth of experience and opinions. Election of the student leadership council reflects the British electoral system and demonstrates democracy in action to our students.
The Student Council discuss issues that have been raised by the student body and then present these issues to the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team. The issues put forward to cover a wide range of issues, both pastoral and academic.
As a result, students take ownership of not only their school but also of their learning and progress. This encourages a heightened sense of both personal and social responsibility.
How we influence and shape democracy is explored in many ways, though lessons, current affairs and assemblies. These weekly themes are linked to our school values. These are often connected to national or international celebrations and commemorations such as: International Day of Peace; Martin Luther King Day; and Remembrance Day.
In ASPIRE, students learn about British Democracy and how young people can participate at a local and national level.
The Rule of LawThe Rule of Law
The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, is consistently reinforced at the Southmoor Academy, and consequently, our students possess a strong sense of equality and understanding of what is right and wrong.
We have a rigorous Behaviour Management system that is understood by all staff and students, with reminders through regular training and assemblies.
Students are taught the ‘rules’ of the school along with the value and reasons behind rules and laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when rules and the law are broken. An integral part of our Behaviour Management Policy is the use of restorative justice. It aims to increase student awareness of how their actions affect others in the community and ensure students are better able to make the right choices.
We have a local Police officer who works with our students to educate them on how young people can be affected by crime and how to stay safe.
In ASPIRE, students learn about the rule of law by learning about the importance of shared values and responsibilities of British citizens.
Individual LibertyIndividual Liberty
Students are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school, we educate and provide boundaries so that students can make informed choices and respectfully express their views and beliefs.
Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms, and are advised how to exercise these safely and respectfully, for example through our assemblies, ASPIRE AM, ASPIRE curriculum, current affairs and tutorial activities. In lessons, students can make choices about the tasks and challenges they complete through differentiation and stretch/challenge, as well as being able to choose from a varied programme of extra-curricular activities.
Stereotypes are regularly challenged and we are working hard to raise the aspirations of all of our students with regular discussions about potential career possibilities and providing opportunities to experience different career and further education opportunities. All students have equally high aspirations for their futures.
In ASPIRE students learn about individual liberty by learning about how they can express their rights and personal freedoms safely.
Mutual RespectMutual Respect
Mutual respect is at the heart of our values. Staff and students treat each other with the utmost respect and courtesy. Students learn that their behaviours affect their rights and those of others. All members of the school community are required to treat each other with respect; this is a high profile message that is communicated to students. Our Behaviour Management policy means that students know that their choices affect their rights and those of others. We also provide a model for civil resolution of conflict through restorative justice.
Anti-bullying has a high profile within the school and is addressed through the ASPIRE programme, ASPIRE AM, assemblies, surveys and our Anti-bullying Policy. We celebrate Anti-Bullying week with a series of tutor activities and whole school events to promote difference and equality in our school. Students are also taught about respect and bullying in the online world through our curriculum and e-safety lessons.
In ASPIRE, students learn about mutual respect through relationship education, e-safety and the work they complete on shared community values.
Acceptance of Those of Different Faiths & BeliefsAcceptance of Those of Different Faiths and Beliefs
Southmoor Academy is rich in cultural diversity and we are proud to promote and celebrate our different backgrounds and beliefs. Students learn that all members of the school community deserve to be treated with respect and that differences are to be accepted.
Elements of Religious Education are taught through the RE Curriculum in KS3 and KS4, ASPIRE in KS3, KS4 and KS5, which promotes mutual respect and understanding between those of different faiths or beliefs.
Assemblies and ASPIRE AM actively challenge stereotypes and reinforce messages of tolerance and respect for others no matter their ethnicity, beliefs, gender or disability. Assemblies cover a variety of topics, including Yom Kippur; International Day of Peace; Black History Month; Ramadan, Diwali; International Day for Tolerance; Hanukah; Martin Luther King Day; Chinese New Year; and Passover.
The weekly Southmoor Blog celebrates cultural events and celebrates the successes of all students.
At Southmoor Academy, we actively challenge students, staff or parents expressing opinions contrary to the values we hold as a school and those that underpin the fabric of a democratic Britain. We take our responsibilities seriously as set out in the Government’s Prevent Strategy designed to tackle ‘extremist’ views and prevent children from being radicalised.
In ASPIRE, students learn about acceptance and different forms of discrimination including discrimination against people due to their gender, religion, disability, sexuality and ethnicity, as well as how to challenge discrimination in society. The curriculum educates students about the dangers of radicalisation and extremism
Extra Curricular Activities
Extra Curricular Activities
Engaging in extra-curricular activities is associated with an increased confidence which helps our students to develop their social interactions, have a real aspiration to be the best version of themselves and a sense of wellbeing and belonging.
Playing team sports, doing voluntary work, singing or playing in a band are also vital in developing social networks.
At Southmoor Academy we are working to create a culture where all students are keen to engage with an extra-curricular programme that is broad and inclusive.
We deliberately offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities, spanning the musical, artistic, social and sporting domains, as we consider these to be valuable life experiences that should be open to all young people.
Many of our extra-curricular activities lead to events where students can share the work they have been creating with the wider school community.
Alongside these events we run many educational visits that help to bring our classroom learning to life as well as cultural trips that broaden our students’ experiences of the wider world.
Recent visits that have taken place include:
- MFL visits to Paris and Berlin
- Social Sciences visit to New York City
- Geography visit to Iceland
- Year 8 and 9 rewards visit to Disneyland Paris
- History Battlefields visit
- Whole year group visits to Bamburgh, Beamish and York
- Duke of Edinburgh expeditions
- STEM visits
- Employer and Workplace visits
Careers
Careers
Our Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance programme has been recognised as a strength of the school and has twice been awarded the Quality in Careers Standard for its outstanding support for everyone in the school community.
Careers Education permeates throughout everything that we do in school in order to prepare our young people for their future lives.
To find out more about our CEIAG provision, visit the comprehensive section here.
We believe that essential skills are a key component of employability and it is importance that young people are able to develop a set of essential, transferable skills to thrive in education, employment and entrepreneurship. Southmoor Academy currently holds the prestigious Skills Builder Gold Award for our extensive programme of embedding employability skills into everything we do in school.
To find out more about the Skills Builder Framework, click here.
