Personal Development and Religious Education

Personal development (PSHE) at George Pindar School is a developmental programme of learning based on the PSHE Association’s model through which students acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives now and in the future. 

Students develop the qualities and attributes they need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. Students are equipped to live healthy, safe, productive, capable, responsible and balanced lives. 

The programme helps students to build their confidence, resilience and self esteem, and to identify and manage risk and make informed choices in relation to healthy relationships and being safe on and offline. It encourages them to be enterprising and supports them in making effective transitions, positive learning and career choices and in achieving economic wellbeing as well as providing students with knowledge, skills and understanding to prepare them to play a full and active part in society as responsible citizens. Our personal development  programme also provides opportunities for students to reflect on and clarify their own and explore the complex and sometimes conflicting range of values and attitudes they encounter now, and in the future. Links are made from students’ KS2 learning and developed ready for KS5.

In Key Stage 3, the programme is delivered as discreet lessons on alternate weeks with drama.  In Key Stage 4, it is delivered in half termly blocks, alternating with RS. The curriculum  covers Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Sex Education and Living in the Wider World.  In addition, students study a tutor time programme that includes Economic Wellbeing, Citizenship, British Values, Character Development and Careers.

Our Personal Development progression pathway can be found here: Curriculum Progression Pathway for PSHE

In HSLT schools, high quality RE is provided for all students and is inclusive and broad minded. At George Pindar School we follow the NYCC locally agreed syllabus for KS3 Religious Education and the WJEC GCSE short course in Religious Studies at KS4.

The aim of Religious Education at George Pindar School is to ensure our students have knowledge of religious beliefs and practices, to explain how these are applied in people’s lives and to evaluate and show empathy towards the different beliefs in today’s society.

We aim to develop the student’s knowledge and understanding of principal religions of the world as well as non-religious world views e.g Humanism. We encourage all of our students to learn about and from  different religions, beliefs and traditions so that they can develop their own sense of identity as citizens in modern Britain today and contribute to a global community

Right of Withdrawal

Parents/carers do have the right to withdraw pupils from RE lessons, or any part of the RE curriculum. If you wish to do this, please make an appointment with the RE subject leader in school. HSLT does not support selective withdrawal from RE.

Our schools have a duty to supervise pupils withdrawn from RE, though not to provide additional teaching or to incur extra cost. Where the pupil has been withdrawn, alternative arrangements will be made for RE of the kind the parents/guardians want the pupil to receive. These arrangements will be made by the parents/guardians. The school is not expected to make these arrangements. This RE could be provided at the school in question, or by another school in the locality. If neither approach is practicable, the pupil may receive external RE teaching as long as the withdrawal does not significantly impact on the child’s attendance.

Click here for our Curriculum Progression Pathway for RE (RS)