Personal Development

At CHS South, Personal Development is a core part of our mission. We believe that education is far more than academic achievement. It is about supporting young people to grow into confident, compassionate, creative and resilient individuals. Through a carefully planned curriculum that includes the Qualities of Success, PSHE and Life Skills, RSE, Form Time, and our Community of Belonging, we ensure that every student develops the knowledge, character and skills they need for success now and in the future.

This curriculum is structured across all five-year groups, allowing students to build on their learning over time. Whether they are exploring healthy relationships, developing resilience, understanding complex issues in the wider world or preparing for adulthood, our approach ensures each student leaves CHS South ready to thrive in further education, employment and later life.

At CHS South, the Qualities of Success are central to our Personal Development Curriculum. These qualities guide students from Year 7 to Year 11, giving them the character, mindset and skills they need to thrive. Each year builds on the last so that students grow in confidence, maturity and independence as they move through school.

This visual represents our whole‑school approach to Personal Development and Wellbeing.

At the centre is a profile symbolising each student, surrounded by key character qualities we aim to nurture - creativity, resilience, curiosity, optimism, practice, empathy, responsibility, motivation, and reflection.

Around this core, the diagram highlights the wide range of experiences and support systems that contribute to students’ personal growth. These include:

Inclusion - ensuring all students have access to opportunities, participation, and diverse experiences.

Enrichment - extracurricular activities, trips, visits, and interactions with external professionals that broaden students’ horizons.

Curriculum & Teaching - embedding personal development into academic learning and the wider learning environment.

Pastoral Support - targeted interventions, pastoral care, and a strong ethos of wellbeing.

Careers Education - guidance, pathways, and benchmarking to prepare students for future destinations.

Leadership & Wellbeing - policies, pastoral systems, and curriculum structures that promote positive development.

Together, these elements reflect our commitment to supporting every student academically, socially, and emotionally helping them grow into confident, capable, and compassionate young people.

At CHS South, PSHE is taught in our EPR (Ethics, Philosophy and Religion) and RESPECT lessons. This supports our goal to help every student become creative, happy, and successful.

RE(lationships), Employability, Social, Personal and Health Education, and Critical Thinking.

This curriculum forms a core part of our SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural) provision, with the statutory RSE framework embedded throughout all year groups.

Our aim is to equip students with the knowledge, understanding and skills to navigate modern life confidently. Through EPR and RESPECT lessons, students explore topical issues, develop self-awareness, build resilience, and cultivate the tools needed to adapt to change and challenge.

Curriculum Structure:

• Years 7, 8 and 9: PSHE is taught in the Summer Term of EPR lessons.
• Year 10: Students take part in a dedicated weekly RESPECT lesson.
• Year 11: Students receive weekly RESPECT lessons to prepare them for adulthood, further education, and life beyond school.

The curriculum is comprehensively mapped to ensure consistency, progression, and clear links to whole-school initiatives. This structured approach ensures that students receive high-quality, meaningful personal development, setting them up for a successful and fulfilling future.

What is RSE?

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) focuses on the emotional, social, and cultural development of young people. It helps them understand healthy relationships, sexual health, identity, lifestyle choices, diversity, and personal safety. RSE is not about the promotion of sexual activity.

The Department for Education requires all schools in England to teach RSE as part of the statutory curriculum. This ensures that all students receive consistent and age-appropriate provision.

RSE at CHS South

At CHS South, we recognise that high-quality RSE is essential for the wellbeing, personal development, and long-term success of our students. Our RSE programme equips young people with the knowledge, attitudes, and practical skills they need to lead safe, healthy, respectful, and fulfilling lives.

Through RSE at CHS South, students have opportunities to:

• Learn about themselves and others
• Understand how to stay safe and healthy
• Build positive personal, academic, and social relationships
• Learn about wellbeing and mental health
• Strengthen their resilience
• Develop the confidence to take care of themselves
• Know when and where to seek help and support

Our RSE curriculum reflects our mission to nurture creative, happy, and successful young people. It forms a vital part of our commitment to preparing students for adulthood and helping them thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Parental RSHE Transparency

Relationship and Sex Education Policy

Form Time at CHS South is a purposeful and supportive start to every morning. It gives students a consistent routine, time to connect with their form tutor, and space to build the habits that underpin a successful school day. Within this structure, students take part in a range of activities including reading, assemblies and targeted interventions. Life Lessons are also delivered during Form Time in dedicated 30-minute blocks, allowing students to explore key personal, social and developmental themes in depth. Each year group follows a tailored weekly schedule that ensures they receive the right support at the right moment, helping them begin each day feeling prepared, informed and confident.

At CHS South, we want every student to feel welcomed, valued and supported from the moment they join our school. Belonging and inclusion sit at the heart of this. They are not just part of our ethos but a daily experience shared by all students and staff.

From Year 7 onwards, students become part of a community that celebrates individuality while embracing unity and shared purpose. This sense of belonging goes far beyond Form Time or RESPECT lessons. It is visible in classrooms, corridors, clubs, societies and every aspect of school life.

Our staff model inclusion, kindness and respect so that every student feels supported, understood and appreciated. Through our curriculum and wider experiences, students learn to value diversity, develop empathy and build positive relationships with others.

As students progress through the school, they form lasting friendships, build trusted relationships with staff and grow in confidence. They learn that their voice matters and that they play an important role in shaping the CHS South community.

Belonging strengthens both academic progress and personal growth. It helps students develop the character traits we value most, including resilience, responsibility, collaboration and empathy.

At CHS South, belonging is a commitment:

You are welcome. You are supported. You belong here.