Personal Development - PSHE Curriculum
Personal Development - PSHE Curriculum – update following statutory changes as effective from September 2026
Personal development encompasses PSHE, RSHE, Character education, Careers information, advice and guidance and the wider school enrichment programme.
Students across key stage 3 and 4 have a broad and balanced PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) Curriculum. Students in 6th form have a separate and robust programme of study which, like the curriculum for key stages 3 and 4 follow the statutory guidelines for September 2026. We focus on building positive relationships, forged through mutual respect and our school values of Aspire, Endeavour and Achieve. The curriculum is carefully sequenced, relative and responsive. We include student surveys to inform us of local or community specific issues. The curriculum builds on prior knowledge.
- In year 7 students have 1 hour timetabled PSHE lesson per fortnight and a tutor group programme.
- In year 8 students have 2 hours timetabled PSHE lessons per fortnight and a tutor programme
- In year 9 students have 2 hours timetabled PSHE lessons per fortnight and a tutor programme
- In year 10 students have 1 hour timetabled PSHE lessons per fortnight and a tutor programme
- In year 11 students have 3 x 20 minutes per fortnight and a tutor programme
- 6th form students have a tutorial programme and a tutor programme.
At Darwin, we follow the PSHE association accredited model – a spiral curriculum, which covers 3 broad themes; Health and Wellbeing; Living in the Wider World and R elationships. Each topic is divided into 2 half terms, so that each year group visits each topic twice a year. In addition, Careers lessons take place during PSHE time and we use the UNIFROG platform for learning and tracking. In addition, Unifrog PSHE lessons are carefully planned into the PSHE curriculum.
Furthermore, we publish our Assembly programme with 6 half term themes:
- Stunning start – organisation, expectations and goal setting
- Diversity – Society, People and the culture around us
- Positive mental and physical health
- Cultural capital – our experiences mould who we are
- British Values – what makes us effective citizens
- Effective participation – careers, exams, revision and our future.
Our school calendar has a wide range of themed days, weeks and months (for example Black History Month, Diversity and inclusion month).
Finally, we have a wide range of partnerships with outside organisations to deliver extended assemblies and drop days to enhance student experiences (St Giles Trust, Daniel Spargo Mabbs foundation, Your Choice, Your voice, Impact Day, Bromley Police, Transport for London, Mr Beezy are examples).
We are the champion school for TENDER – a relationships and domestic abuse charity who use drama to raise awareness around sexual abuse and domestic violence.