What is Personal Development?

Personal Development helps to support an individual with the skills and qualities to help them prepare for adulthood and to understand the world in which we live.

Personal Development involves health, relationships, safety, attitudes and experiences.

Meadowside School believes that education, in addition to parent/home support, plays a vital role to assist a pupil with their Personal Development.

The aim of Personal Development at Meadowside

• To help enable pupils to make healthier choices such as diet and exercise
• To learn about positive relationships and intimate relationships (RSE) and health
• To develop pupils' awareness of safety issues and protection (examples drugs, alcohol and online safety)
• To learn about rules, laws and consequences
• To help prepare pupils to accept and respect people within the society we live
• To encourage confidence to question, recognise discrimination and challenge misconceptions
• To help develop skills for now and the future
• To have access to a varied curriculum with opportunities to engage in activities linked to interests
• To have career linked opportunities and experiences
• To develops skills (Cultural Capital) that may support further education, employment and towards supported or independent living
• To help pupils make the most of their abilities
• To help equip pupils with skills to live within society
• To help pupils develop self-confidence, self-esteem and greater independence and responsibility

Personal Development is covered a wide range of  experiences in many areas of the curriculum we offer at Meadowside.

SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development)

What is SMSC?

SMSC stands for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development. Lesson focii feature different areas of SMSC to give pupils opportunities to develop this part of their education.

British Values and SMSC

There are five areas of British Values (Democracy; The rule of law; Individual liberty; Mutual respect and Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs) to help pupils to understand the importance of respect and to help prepare them for life in modern Britain.

British Values is incorporated into the SMSC education at Meadowside.

Examples of the areas of SMSC includes;

Spiritual: The opportunity to explore beliefs (religious or non-religious), to enjoy learning about themselves, others and the world around them

Moral: The opportunity to understand what is right and wrong, respect of the law and understanding consequences 

Social: The opportunity to use a range of social skills to participate with others in a variety of social settings; cooperating with others and being able to resolve conflicts

Cultural: The opportunity to learn about and appreciate the cultural influences that have shaped their own heritage and the heritage of others; appreciate Britain’s parliamentary system and its role in developing Britain (past, present and future); participate in cultural opportunities; to understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.