Personal Development
Our broad and balanced curriculum which is well-supported by a strong enrichment programme enables STAGS to provide a wide range of rich learning experiences for all students.
During the school year, all students have the opportunity to participate in Personal Development opportunities to further develop their skills in resilience, confidence and independence, enhancing opportunities for cultural capital and understanding ways to wellbeing.
There are two Personal Development days in the school year providing students with access to workshops and talks from external providers:
Wellbeing Day (20th October)
Equality Diversity Inclusivity (28th March)
We are delighted to have achieved the ‘Advanced Practice - Emotional and Mental Wellbeing in Schools Mark'.
We pride ourselves on our focus on anti-bullying throughout the school, promoting the need to be kind. In being awarded this Emotional & Wellbeing mark, we received some very positive feedback:
- Environment and ethos - Equality and diversity are a huge focus at STAGS and throughout the school, differences are openly celebrated. There are numerous examples of visual displays which represent culture, heritage and achievement, fostering a sense of ownership and pride amongst students.
- Staff do not shy away from discussing current or challenging affairs and educate students on facts through a programme of weekly form group sessions. While timetabled in advance, these are flexible enough in nature to cater for unexpected arsing issues.
- Curriculum, teaching and learning - STAGS has some great examples of how PSHE is included within other subject areas; during the visit leaders described discussing global majority mathematicians, reading diverse literature and exploring scientists who have experienced poor mental health. The PSHE curriculum offered through Brook Learn, has a straight-talking approach to many areas, and safely addresses topics with appropriate language and age/stage related timing.
- Careers and Enterprise Education is taught as a discrete subject within PSHE lessons and is a fundamental part of our personal development provision. Each year group studies a unit of work based around employability skills and other elements of careers. More details can be found on our Careers, Employability and Enterprise page.
- As form time is utilised for additional focus on staff/pupil relationships, readiness to learn and wellbeing, students have ample access to developing their language around emotional wellbeing and mental health. Signposting to support is displayed around school, both in public and more private spaces.
- Enrichment at STAGS contributes to our students' personal development by encouraging participation in a wide range of clubs and activities as well as student leadership. We are passionate advocates of the importance of the curriculum outside the classroom and encourage our students to get involved in as many different enrichment opportunities as they can to develop their character values and virtues. More details about our Enrichment offer can be found here.
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Pupil voice - Students who have taken up the roles of champions and ambassadors share opinions on behalf of the cohorts they represent, and gather voice from their peers through surveys, class discussion and anonymity boxes. Minutes from meetings are publicly displayed, so students can see that their opinions and views are being considered and discussed. School aims to increase pupil voice among the lower school by using older students to train and empower younger students.
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Staff development, health and wellbeing - The staff team at STAGS is greatly supportive of one another, and communication amongst teams is positive. Staff appear happy in school, with an emphasis on a work/life balance implemented at all levels, as well as a focus on career development and opportunities to broaden knowledge both professionally and personally. The new Positive Workload and Wellbeing Group brings staff views and opinions to a regular, solution focussed forum where good practice is shared, and concerns discussed.