The School Inspection Handbook identifies the integration of Personal Development as: ‘The curriculum provided by schools [that] should extend beyond the academic, technical, or vocational. Schools support pupils to develop in many diverse aspects of life.’ At Verulam all our students are known and loved. We are committed to developing well-rounded young people, who are truly and rightly proud to be #VerulamForLife. However, don’t just take our word for it; the strength of our programme has been picked up by Ofsted in both 2018 and November 2022:

“Pupils have faith in adults to protect them from harm. They know that bullying and discrimination will not be tolerated. They feel confident to be themselves. Pupils generally were confident to speak about different sexualities and told inspectors that they found racism unacceptable.”
Ofsted report 2018.

“Pupils feel safe in the school. The curriculum content teaches pupils how to stay safe in their local context and online. This information is also shared with pupils through assemblies and enrichment days. Pupils are aware of their digital footprint and know not to share personal details on social media platforms. They say that they have an adult that they would and could go to if they had a concern.”
Ofsted report November 2022

What do we do and how do we do it?

Personal Development is embedded in the wider curriculum of the school. It pervades the curriculum to the point where it is part of the fabric of all we do. At Verulam, the many ways we approach Personal Development can be categorised in the following seven key areas: 

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1. Inclusion: Equality and Diversity
2. Well-being
3. Character
4. Citizenship and Community
5. Cultural Appreciation
6. Wider Opportunities: Trips and Visits
7. Careers and Employability