Personal Development is at the heart of our school learning journey.  We ensure that we encourage and embed a range of knowledge, skills and experiences that allow our children to be life-long learners.

We support our children to acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, personal development develops the qualities and attributes children need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. It prepares our children to manage many of the challenges and responsibilities they will face growing up in such rapidly changing and challenging times. It also helps them to connect and apply the knowledge and understanding they learn in all subjects to practical, real-life situations while helping them to feel safe and secure enough to fulfill their academic potential.

Our whole school approach  promotes effective relationships between all members of the school community. The promotion of pupils’ personal and social development underpins other learning. It assists our children with building their personal identities, confidence and self-esteem and understand what influences their decisions. Developing self-understanding, empathy and the ability to work with others helps our pupils to enjoy healthy and productive relationships in all aspects of their lives.

Although personal development in embedded throughout the curriculum, it is also evident through:-

• Pupil Leadership
• Extra Curricular Offer
• Mental Wellbeing
• British Values
• SMSC

Pupil Leadership

At St Andrew's, our pupil leaders are an important, friendly and motivated group of children who consistently strive to meet their full potential, whilst supporting the whole school community.

They work together to promote diversity, celebrate differences and improve the school environment.

Our Pupil Leadership Team

Roles and Responsibilities

• Act as ambassadors for the school both when in school and when out in the community

• Represent pupil voice

• Attend pupil leadership meetings

• Work alongside the senior leadership team, members of St Andrew's church, our local community, and other LDST schools, to help shape our school and enhance our learning journey

• They help the adults in our school community to make decisions on behalf of the pupils.

• Meet regularly and feedback to teachers, children and other members of our school community

• Support teachers with the organisation of whole school events.

At St Andrew's Primary School we are committed to developing pupils’ skills as leaders across the school in order to develop their personal and social development. The aim is that as many pupils as possible are given the opportunity to lead, regardless of their academic ability. We want all children to have an opportunity to say how their school is lead and fully embrace the chance to develop areas of school life.

Our approach to pupil leadership involves many pupils and allows them to develop their skills and confidence helping to run the school.

Examples of Pupil Leaders at our school, include:-

• Head boy/girl, deputy head boy/girl
• WOW group - Worship Leaders
• Sports Captains
• Play time Pal Leaders
• Mental Wellbeing Champions
• School Council Representatives

Extra Curricular Offer

Research shows that participation in extra- curricular activities can positively impact on attainment, increase a pupil’s positive identification with school and build self-confidence and resilience. It also shows that children that do not have access to these opportunities fall behind, lack confidence, and fail to develop career aspirations. At St Andrew's Primary School, we offer a range of clubs where children can learn and play in a relaxed atmosphere with their friends.  We are very excite, post covid, to be reintroducing many extra curricular activities both after school and during lunch times.  Current opportunities include:-

• football club
• knitting club
• chillout club 
• various musical instrument lessons e.g: guitar, piano and drums
• school choir
• maths activity club
• English activity club

We will be offering a wider selection of clubs during the summer term and new academic year too!

As well as offering experiences via clubs, our subject leaders have mapped out the curriculum to ensure that all children have opportunities for blended knowledge and experiences.  This ensures that all of our children have opportunities to take part in out of school visits and in workshops in school led by visitors.

Mental Wellbeing 

At St Andrew's Primary School, we are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of our pupils and staff. We understand that everyone experiences life challenges which can make us vulnerable and at times, we may need additional emotional support. We take the view that positive mental health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play. 

'It's ok to not be ok!'

At our school we:

• Help children to understand their emotions and feelings better                             
• Help children feel comfortable sharing any concerns or worries
• Help children socially to form and maintain relationships
• Promote self esteem and ensure children know that they count
• Encourage children to be confident and ‘dare to be different’
• Help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks
• Support through our vision and values

Our Deputy Head Teacher/SENCO Mrs Dwan, is our Senior Mental Health Lead and she works together with members of out teaching and non teaching staff, parents/carers, governors, MAT, and our Y5 Mental Wellbeing Champions, to support the mental wellbeing of our whole school community.  Mrs Dwan has taken part in training with ROAR and our young leaders have taken part in training with One Goal.

British Values

At St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, we develop and promote British Values throughout our school and within our curriculum.

A key part of our plan for education is to ensure children become valuable and fully rounded members of society who treat others with respect and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

• The Rule of Law

• Democracy

• Individual Liberty

• Mutual Respect

• Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs

   

To do this our children will develop;

• An understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process

• An understanding that the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law

• An acceptance that people having different faiths and beliefs to oneself (or having none) should be accepted and tolerated, and should not be the cause of discriminatory behaviour

• An understanding of the importance or identifying and combating discrimination

The mission statement and aims of the school clearly reflect these values, and the whole school strives to uphold them.

SMSC - Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development

SMSC stands for Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural education and is part of the National Curriculum.

At St Andrew's Primary School, our aim is to inspire all our pupils to love learning and to be socially and morally responsible citizens of the world. Our purpose is to nurture the growth of the whole child - academically, socially and emotionally. We embrace the fact that every child is unique, and our ethos is warm, supportive and family friendly, ensuring the best possible environment for all children to reach their potential

Christian values – are embedded in our school SMSC education through PSHE lessons, worship and learning experiences that occur in the everyday life of the school.

Our definition of SMSC

Spiritual: Explore beliefs and experiences; respect values; discover oneself and the surrounding world; use imagination and creativity; reflect meaningfully on their own actions and the actions of others.

Moral: Recognise right and wrong; understand consequences; investigate moral and ethical issues; offer reasoned views.

Social: Use social skills in different contexts; work well with others; resolve conflicts; understand how communities work.

Cultural: Appreciate cultural influences; participate in culture opportunities; understand, accept, respect and celebrate diversity.