At St. Augustine’s, Personal Development is an integral part of our vision. Through our academic curriculum, bespoke Pastoral Programme, our Trauma Informed approach and our Student Leadership opportunities, our students have multiple opportunities to learn from a range of external speakers, on issues from male mental health, diversity, equality and from Holocaust survivors. They also participate in a wide range of trips to locations such as Lords Cricket Ground, London Zoo, the Royal Academy and the Houses of Parliament amongst many more. We are incredibly proud of the broad range of extra-curricular opportunities we offer. Alongside this, our PSHCE curriculum plays an invaluable role in supporting our students’ development, encouraging them to be the absolute best they can be.
Through our wide ranging and diverse PSHCE curriculum, our students develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe in today’s world. Carefully planned PSHCE programmes in KS3-KS5 have an impact on both academic and non-academic outcomes for pupils, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged. We encourage questions to be asked in a safe and secure environment, inviting our students to discuss controversial or sensitive issues within the classroom, ensuring all of our teachers are trained in current affairs and issues impacting our young people. We aim to promote an environment where active listening, with healthy debate and discussion, is respected by all. Our PSHCE curriculum prepares students for life in all its fullness.
The role of PSHCE within Personal Development-
We believe that PSHCE truly is a curriculum for life, promoting social, moral, physical, emotional and mental development. Our community promotes a curriculum which develops skills such as communication, teamwork and self-management. It also promotes the development of empathy, resilience and critical thinking.
On this basis, the PSHCE curriculum continues to develop in accordance to the PSHE association guidelines and government advice. We also take into consideration student voice, teacher voice and the overall needs and interests of our students, as discussed with our Directors of Learning for each year group. The curriculum also fits in line with the National Curriculum for Citizenship, as our topics, “help to provide pupils with knowledge, skills and understanding to prepare them to play and full and active life in society.” Integrating the thoughts and expertise of both our teachers and students is critical to us. They know which issues are impacting them, and we aim to ensure the curriculum is tailored to their needs.
Overall, the personal development curriculum encompasses all we are as a school. We aim to ‘be our best’ through a trauma informed approach. By encouraging emotional development and intelligence across our community, our students are able to take advantage of the vast range of extra-curricular opportunities, supporting their development as the leaders of tomorrow.
Extra Curricular Opportunities
We are hugely proud of the extra curricular and extended curriculum offering at St Augustine’s. From sport to music, art to debating, there really is something for everyone. We believe that every student has the right to pursue something they are interested in and passionate about. If students come to us with an idea, we will do all we can to facilitate this and make it happen, often with our students leading it! Our subject teams lead a wide range of trips out, as well as bringing in fantastic guest speakers from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that our students are exposed to as many experiences as possible throughout their time in school.
In the last year, we have seen trips to London Zoo (Geography), Tate Britain, the Whitechapel Galleries, the National Gallery and Tate Modern (Art), Parliament and the Supreme Court (Politics) and walking tours of Southwark and the South Bank (EAL/SEND). These subject trips offer a fantastic opportunity for our students to consolidate their classroom learning, taking full advantage of our inner London location. These trips are complemented by in school activities, from social Sketch Ups to tie in with our wider focus on wellbeing, our incredible RS Drop Down Days with our sixth form, focusing on philosophy and questioning – ‘How do we acquire knowledge and where does it come from?’; Dream Arts, who are developing confidence through creative arts in Year 8, and our work related learning links through the Old Vic ‘Take the Lead’ programme, Cleveland Clinic and more.
In addition to these offerings, our student leadership programme ensures that over 100 students are school leaders. This may be as a Form Captain or Deputy, representing their form at the half termly School Council meetings, one of the committees (Charity, Wellbeing, Eco or Sport- see Student Leadership Opportunities for more details on these groups,) as a sixth form Prefect or in supporting our subject teams through an academic society. Our student leaders have provided an additional layer of extra curricular opportunities, including Debating Club with our Year 7s and the primary school, the Hope Newsletter, edited and produced by a group of our Year 12 students, supporting PE with charity football tournaments and organising school events, not to mention our annual Big Bake Sale for Children in Need, our ‘Just Listen’ wellbeing club and our Cultural Day, designed as a celebration of our wonderfully diverse and inclusive community.
