Personal Development and Wellbeing (PDW)

Personal development and wellbeing (PDW) is an important part of our curriculum.  We are proud that it is fluid and adapts to the changing needs of our students and community. It also exceeds statutory requirements and guidance, including those of the DfE and the PSHE association.

Integrated topics

PDW often overlaps with topics in other curriculum subjects such as science, technology, PE, English and humanities. It is taught once a week as part of a rolling timetable, delivered by tutors.

Age appropriate learning

At Grey Court we aim to match the curriculum to each student’s age, developmental stage, particular social pressures they are likely to encounter, and their interests and needs.  Some of the topics covered during PDW lessons include:

• transition from year 7 
• healthy and inclusive relationships, including consent 
• revision techniques and exam stress 
• UK and international politics 
• financial literacy 
• drugs, smoking, vaping and alcohol education 
• extremism and radicalisation
• careers education both at Grey Court and post-16 
• online safety, including fake news, nudes, cyberbullying and unrealistic relationship expectations 
• reproductive health 
• media reliability
• gang violence.

We expand on these topics regularly so that each student’s understanding of the subject matter increases and develops as they mature and progress up the school.

There are regular updates on PDW in the weekly ebulletin.

Sex and relationships

Our PDW curriculum has been updated to account for the 2019 sex and relationships guidance, set out by the Department for Education. Whilst we feel that sex and relationships education is vital for all, we accept that under the new guidance parents may withdraw their children from the sex and relationships aspect of PDW if they wish. Please note that this exemption does not apply to sex and relationships content in other curriculum subjects such as biology or sociology. 

Contact

Ms H James Head of PDW, hjames@greycourt.org.uk 
Ms V Price Associate Head, vprice@greycourt.org.uk