Personal Development

At Hasland Junior School, personal development is central to our provision and underpins everything we do. We are committed to supporting children to grow into confident, resilient and responsible individuals who are well prepared for life in modern Britain and for their future beyond school.

Our STAR values of Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Kindness and Teamwork are woven into everyday school life. These values help pupils develop positive attitudes, make thoughtful choices and understand how they can contribute positively to our school community and wider society. Children are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions, show kindness and consideration towards others, persevere when learning feels challenging and work cooperatively with their peers.

We place emphasis on our Safeguarding curriculum which delivered, primarily, through our PSHE and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) programmes, as well as through the wider life of the school. Online safety is explicitly taught as part of this curriculum and through computing lessons, ensuring pupils develop the knowledge and understanding they need to recognise risks, behave safely and responsibly online, and make well-informed choices when using digital technologies. Teaching also covers online relationships, enabling pupils to understand how to communicate safely and respectfully, recognise inappropriate or harmful online behaviours, and know what to do if they feel worried or unsure. In addition to the timetabled curriculum, safeguarding messages are reinforced through assemblies, themed weeks, Class Connection sessions and daily interactions, helping pupils develop the knowledge, confidence and resilience they need to make safe choices and protect their wellbeing as they grow more independent.

We place a strong emphasis on promoting positive mental health and wellbeing across the school. Through a supportive, whole-school approach, pupils are taught to understand and manage their emotions, build positive relationships and develop resilience. Children know they can talk to trusted adults, and wellbeing is reinforced through the curriculum, assemblies and daily interactions, with additional support provided where needed

We actively promote British Values, supporting pupils to develop a clear and age-appropriate understanding of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance. Through lessons, assemblies and pupil voice opportunities, children are encouraged to share their views, listen to others and develop an understanding of their rights and responsibilities.

Our curriculum and wider school experiences strongly support pupils’ Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development. Pupils are given regular opportunities to reflect, develop a strong sense of right and wrong, build positive relationships and learn about and appreciate diversity. Teaching about Protected Characteristics helps pupils understand equality, respect difference and challenge discrimination, ensuring that we all feel safe, valued and included.

As a consequence of the high priority we place on personal development, the school has achieved a number of nationally recognised awards. These include the BERT Award, recognising excellence in building effective relationships and delivering high-quality RSE, and the SMILERS Gold Award, which reflects our strong commitment to supporting pupils’ mental health and wellbeing. We are very proud of these awards, which recognise the positive impact of our provision on children’s lives.

By placing personal development at the heart of our school ethos, we ensure that pupils leave Hasland Junior School well prepared for the next stage of their education and for life beyond school, as confident, respectful and active citizens.

Please work through the tabs within this section to find additional information and parent support for the above.