• All students receive a timetabled Personal Development lesson within the fortnightly cycle. This is supplemented by our Beliefs & Values (R.S) curriculum alongside tutor time, assemblies and drop down days. 

• Our Personal Development curriculum map is refined in line with national and local priorities, and statutory requirements.

• Tutor time and the Personal Development  programme thoughtfully matches knowledge sequenced in assemblies and whole school messages.

• Our Read to Succeed tutor time programme  ensures equity of exposure to challenging literature, insisting on all students reading aloud and sharing experience.

• The Personal Development curriculum is also supplemented by our  pastoral provision, enrichment opportunities and the wider curriculum.

• For more information on our Personal Development provision and curriculum please follow the click link

For further information on our Learning Journey please click link

Assemblies enrich  our curriculum provision with a comprehensive and inspirational assembly programme to support our students’ personal development and raise their awareness and appreciation of key issues, faiths, events and practices.

Assemblies occur in tutor time in year groups, to support age appropriate guidance and content. Assemblies can be extended to create time to allow guest speakers and deliver external programmes for example, Road Safety, E-safety, etc.

Assemblies are also used to provide an opportunity to keep students informed aboutimportant current events of national and international significance. Examples of these include; the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza; The death of the Queen and the King’s Coronation; Remembrance Day and religious festivals such as Ramadan. 

To access our assembly programme, please click link

Since 1999, it has been compulsory in state-funded secondary schools to deliver the relationship and sex education (RSE) aspect of PSHE.

We live in a drastically different world to that of 22 years ago and the new RSHE Department of Education Guidelines addresses and incorporates the world our young people are forming relationships in.  This is an important step in providing adequate RSHE for young people in the 21st Century.

The RSHE curriculum at Buckler’s Mead is in line with government guidelines, is universally accessible and delivered to students in an age and developmentally appropriate way. Our RSHE curriculum is delivered predominantly through our Personal Development timetabled lesson for all year groups. It is also supplemented by our Beliefs and Values curriculum, wider curriculum subjects, our assembly and reading programme as well as drop down days and whole year group activities. 

It is taught sensitively and inclusively, with respect and acknowledgment of the backgrounds and beliefs of our students and parents.  The curriculum provides our students with a sound knowledge of the law; particularly around key issues such as consent and the sharing of indecent images.  The lessons have been designed with diversity and inclusion at the centre ensuring that all lessons incorporate and reflect the nine protected characteristics in line with the Equality Act 2010.

For further Information on RSHE and its delivery at Buckler's Mead, please click link. 

Parents will not be able to withdraw their child from any aspect of relationships education or health education.

Parents will be able to withdraw their child from any or all aspects of sex education, other than those which are part of the science curriculum, up to and until three terms before the age of 16. However, this can only happen after discussion with the school. Please contact Mr Lawrence, the Headteacher if you wish to discuss this further. 

After that point, the guidance states that “if the child wishes to receive sex education rather than be withdrawn, the school should make arrangements to provide the child with sex education during one of those terms”.

Where students are withdrawn from sex education, schools will document the process and will “ensure that the student receives appropriate, purposeful education during the period of withdrawal”.

We of course encourage all students to access all parts of the Personal Development curriculum. We see this curriculum as one which gives young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills they need to live safe, healthy, productive lives and realise their full potential.

For an overview of what is delivered in RSE please click link

Our vision and values sit at the heart of our curriculum, ensuring that students get the best education and opportunities. Students are taught explicitly and  implicitly about the  behaviours required to be successful students, fully integrated members of our community and well rounded young individuals. 

Our character traits and the ‘show me your best’ framework are taught to the students through- 

• Assembly programme 

• Tutor time activities

• Rewards and celebration

• Participation and Enrichment Programme 

 We believe that character education is best taught through whole school expectations, ethos and culture, alongside planned curricular opportunities, that all students will experience universally.  The school promotes character traits that link to its vision and values.

In order to promote positive behaviour and teach these explicitly, students are taught to ‘Show me your best’.  We believe that all students should be the best version of themselves. Staff are encouraged to use positive language to remind students of appropriate learning behaviours. These are  rewarded and recognised by staff as part of our rewards and praise procedures. Assembly and form time sessions are  also dedicated to teaching these behaviours. 

Careers information, advice and guidance- click link 

British Values- click link 

• Our students will have high aspirations, and good subject knowledge that will allow them to make appropriate, and safe decisions in their personal lives. 

• By the time they leave our academy, personal, social and health education (PSHE) enables our learners to become healthy, independent and responsible members of a society. It helps them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up

• Our students, regardless of starting point, will have a broad understanding of a range of issues that affect them, and positive personal characteristics that allow them to be productive and successful young members of modern society. Our curriculum allows pupils to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society.

• Students will  develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community.

• All children understand the importance of PSHE, RS, SMSC and British Values and the effects it can have on life in and out of school.