Madeley Academy

Personal Development

At our school, Personal Development is central to our mission of ensuring every student is ready to succeed in modern Britain. Underpinned by our values of being Respectful, Resilient and Responsible, our programme develops confident, informed and aspirational young people.

Our Curriculum

Our carefully sequenced Personal Development curriculum includes:

  • Citizenship
  • Religious Education (RE)
  • PSHE and Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)
  • Careers Education
  • SMSC development
  • Fundamental British Values

This coherent and progressive curriculum ensures students build the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to stay safe, maintain good physical and mental health, and make informed decisions about their future.

Curriculum Delivery

We deliver Personal Development through a high-impact blended model which is carefully adapted by key stage:

  • Explicit RSE teaching in lessons to secure deep understanding
  • Virtual RSE assemblies to reinforce key concepts to all key stages
  • Live PSHE assemblies to deliver consistent, high-quality messaging across all year groups

Our programme is structured around key themes: Cultural Awareness, Community, Online Safety, Health, Financial Capability and Careers

High-Quality Teaching & Assessment

Staff are supported by the PSHE Association and Peerscroller, ensuring delivery is accurate, up-to-date and aligned to statutory guidance.

Students use bespoke Personal Development booklets, which:

  • Check understanding through regular quizzes
  • Embed learning through retrieval practice
  • Enable leaders to monitor knowledge and impact over time

Careers Education

Our highly personalised and ambitious careers programme equips students to make informed, aspirational choices. It is fully embedded from Year 7 to Sixth Form and includes guidance, employer engagement and real-world experiences.

We are proud to be 100% Gatsby Benchmark compliant, with a programme that:

  • Provides meaningful encounters with employers and education providers
  • Offers access to expert, impartial careers guidance
  • Employer led curriculum projects in Years 7 to 11, a Careers Discovery Programme and one week work experience in Year 10, and a two-week Year 12 work experience programme
  • Raises aspirations and supports strong progression outcomes

Enrichment & Wider Development

A wide-ranging programme of workshops, external speakers and enrichment opportunities enhances the curriculum, ensuring students gain real-world knowledge and experiences.

Our Commitment

We are an inclusive school where equality, diversity and respect are embedded throughout the curriculum. Our Personal Development provision ensures all students leave as well-rounded, responsible and confident individuals, fully prepared for the next stage of their lives.