PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

What does Personal Development look like at Brill?

At Brill Church of England School, personal development is not an addition to the curriculum. It is woven through every aspect of school life and is central to our mission as a Church of England school.

Our Christian vision,

“With the wind in our sails, we shall live ‘life in all its fullness’.” (John 10:10)

drives our commitment to ensuring every child is known, valued and enabled to flourish academically, socially, emotionally, spiritually and personally.

We believe education should prepare children not only for their next stage of learning but also for life beyond school. Through a carefully planned programme of character development, leadership, spirituality, community service, enrichment, wellbeing and inclusion, we help children grow into ambitious, confident and grateful young people.

Personal development at Brill is built around our vision for The Brill Child.

We want every child to be:

Ambitious

Children who embrace challenge, persevere when things are difficult and aspire to be the very best version of themselves.

Confident

Children who communicate effectively, speak with purpose, take responsibility and use their voice positively.

Grateful

Children who recognise the contributions of others, value community, demonstrate compassion and seek opportunities to serve.

These characteristics are rooted in our Christian values of Compassion, Honesty, Courage and Hope, which shape both the opportunities we provide and the relationships we build throughout our school community.

INTENT

Our personal development curriculum is ambitious for every child.

We want pupils to leave Brill as well-rounded young people who possess the knowledge, skills, values and personal attributes needed to flourish in modern Britain and contribute positively to society.

Through our personal development programme, we aim for children to:

• develop ambition, confidence and gratitude;
• understand and live out our Christian values;
• build resilience and perseverance;
• develop leadership skills and a sense of responsibility;
• understand how to keep themselves physically and emotionally safe;
• develop healthy and respectful relationships;
• recognise and celebrate diversity;
• understand the importance of service and contribution;
• develop spiritual awareness and reflection;
• broaden their experiences beyond the classroom;
• build emotional wellbeing and self-regulation strategies;
• develop independence and readiness for future education;
• become active and responsible citizens; and
• flourish as unique individuals within a caring community.

We believe that personal development should be a universal entitlement. Every child, regardless of background, need or circumstance, should have access to opportunities that help them discover their strengths, widen their horizons and develop a sense of belonging.

IMPLEMENTATION

The Six Strategic Pillars

Our personal development offer is organised through six interconnected pillars:

Character and the Brill Child

Children are explicitly taught and encouraged to develop ambition, confidence and gratitude through reflection, challenge and experience.

Leadership and Pupil Voice

Children develop leadership skills through opportunities such as Pupil Parliament, Eco Warriors, Page Turners, buddies and wider pupil leadership responsibilities.

Spiritual Development

Children are given opportunities to reflect, wonder, ask questions and explore meaning through collective worship, Prayer Space, Religious Education and reflection throughout the curriculum.

Community and Service

Children learn the importance of service through meaningful engagement with the local community, including partnerships with Lunch Club, Memory Café and All Saints Church.

Adventure and Cultural Capital

Children benefit from Forest School, swimming, visits, visitors and residential experiences that build confidence, independence and resilience.

Pastoral Wellbeing and Inclusion

Children are supported through high-quality PSHE, dedicated pastoral leadership, Caring Café, targeted interventions, trauma-informed practice and strong relationships throughout the school community.chool, they revisit important concepts and encounter increasingly sophisticated questions, enabling their knowledge and understanding to deepen over time.

Jigsaw PSHE

Our PSHE curriculum is supported through the Jigsaw programme, providing a progressive approach from Reception to Year 6.

Children explore themes such as:

• belonging and identity;
• healthy relationships;
• physical and emotional wellbeing;
• aspirations and goals;
• diversity and inclusion;
• personal safety;
• citizenship; and
• managing change and transition.

At Brill, PSHE is delivered by our dedicated Pastoral Lead. This enables teaching to remain responsive to the needs of individual classes, pupils and cohorts whilst maintaining a carefully sequenced and progressive curriculum.

Wellbeing and Belonging

Children flourish when they feel safe, valued and understood.

We place a strong emphasis on wellbeing through:

• dedicated pastoral leadership;
• Caring Café provision;
• buddy systems;
• targeted pastoral intervention;
• therapeutic support from Primrose, our therapy dog;
• strong relationships between staff and pupils; and
• an inclusive culture where every child is valued.

Our approach ensures pupils know where to seek support and develop the confidence to access help when needed.

Trauma-Informed Practice

Brill Church of England School is committed to developing a trauma-informed culture where every child feels safe, respected and able to succeed.

The school has achieved the Bronze Trauma-Informed Schools Award and continues to develop practice through further training and professional development.

Through trauma-informed approaches, we seek to:

promote positive mental health and wellbeing.

build trusted relationships;

support emotional regulation;

create predictable and nurturing environments;

remove barriers to participation;

strengthen inclusion; and

promote positive mental health and wellbeing

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Some of the most powerful experiences happen beyond the classroom.

Children benefit from a rich programme of experiences including:

• Forest School;
• swimming;
• educational visits;
• residential experiences;
• encounters with visitors and experts;
• leadership opportunities;
• community service projects; and
• partnerships with local organisations and All Saints Church.

These experiences help children build resilience, independence, confidence and cultural understanding whilst creating memories that remain with them long after they leave Brill.

Equity and Inclusion

Personal development is for every child.

Leaders carefully monitor participation and actively remove barriers so that pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils, young carers and pupils requiring additional support can fully access the opportunities available.

Our aim is that every child feels that they belong, has opportunities to succeed and experiences life in all its fullness.

IMPACT

By the end of their time at Brill, we want children to be:

• ambitious in their aspirations;
• confident in their abilities;
• grateful for the opportunities they have experienced;
• resilient when facing challenge;
• respectful of others and their beliefs;
• active contributors to their community;
• able to make positive choices;
• emotionally aware and able to seek support when needed;
• spiritually reflective;
• prepared for transition to secondary school; and
• ready to thrive in modern Britain.

Most importantly, we want every child to leave Brill knowing they are valued, equipped with strong character and ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

“With the wind in our sails, we shall live ‘life in all its fullness’.”

Be Bold. Be Brave. Be Brill-iant.