SPARK Studies

Personal Development & Careers

Students participate in PSHE, RSE and Careers education once a week in a structured lesson throughout the year and in shorter form time sessions. The curriculum is tailored to the context of the school and the students’ needs and so focuses on areas within the industry that are relevant to them, and covers topics such as entrepreneurship skills, health and safety on set, issues within the entertainment industries as well as the statutory topics.

PSHE

About:

PSHE education is a planned, developmental programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, PSHE education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.

PSHE education equips pupils to live healthy, safe, productive, capable, responsible and balanced lives. It encourages them to be enterprising and supports them in making effective transitions, positive learning and career choices and in achieving economic well being. A critical component of PSHE education is providing opportunities for children and young people to reflect on and clarify their own values and attitudes and explore the complex and sometimes conflicting range of values and attitudes they encounter now and in the future.

RSE

About:

RSE is taught within the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum. Biological aspects of RSE are taught within the science curriculum. The school recognises the need to create a supportive and secure atmosphere where students can develop the confidence needed to talk, listen and think about sex and relationships.

In order to do this, teachers will:

  • Establish ground rules with students

  • Emphasise the importance of mutual respect

  • Encourage reflection

  • Make students aware of the relevant persons to approach in the school.

RSE focuses on giving young people the information they need to help them develop healthy, nurturing relationships of all kinds including:

  • Families

  • Respectful relationships, including friendships

  • Online and media

  • Being safe

  • Intimate and sexual relationships, including sexual health

Careers Education

Careers education has three main aims:

  • Self-development - students understand themselves and the influences on them.

  • Career exploration - students investigate opportunities in learning and work.

  • Career management - students make and adjust plans to manage change and transition.

Careers guidance enables students to use the knowledge and skills they develop to make decisions about learning and work that are right for them. Guidance helps students to focus on their own choices through effective use of the guidance provided within the school from the Careers Leader, Head of Key Stages or the Careers Adviser and National Careers Service.

Careers information supports the delivery of careers education and guidance by providing access to a range of up-to date information in a variety of formats. Careers information is published on specific CEIAG Google Classrooms for each key stage so that all students have access to it.