Curriculum Intent

Our curriculum intent applies to all our young people, regardless of background, gender, sexual orientation or ability. As a school, and department, we are absolutely committed that the opportunities we plan for and implement ensure that each student can reach and exceed their potential.   

Our Personal Development programme at Washington Academy aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and attributes young people need to protect and enhance their wellbeing, play a positive and successful role within our society and provide them with the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safely, productively and responsibly.  

All students at Washington Academy are, without exception, entitled to a world class Personal Development education that is holistic, ambitious and aspirational spanning their school career. Our intention is to expand pupils knowledge of their world, locally, nationally and globally and give them confidence to tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up within this every changing World.  

Within the taught curriculum of Personal Development at Washington Academy we cover the RSE curriculum, parts of the National Curriculum for Citizenship and the CEIAG curriculum (Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance) including financial literacy and also Health and Wellbeing.  

It is vital that we prepare our young people so that they are empowered to become engaged positive and respectful members of society through a dedicated focus on developing them as professional learners; with a deep understanding of their own beliefs and values so that they can respect the religious and cultural differences of others, and contribute to a cohesive and compassionate society. 

Literacy and numeracy skills are infused throughout our curriculum allowing students to learn, understand and use the precise language and key terminology that is transferable into all subject areas across Washington Academy. Students within Personal Development lessons are encouraged to actively debate key issues, which builds confidence in both oral skills and justification of opinions. 

We are responsible for ensuring our young people are confident to pursue ambitious next steps and progress on to further education, employment or training which will support their future careers through introducing careers related to Citizenship Education, the importance of the wide range of transferrable skills that are used in PSHE and how these can be used by young people in their future learning or career. At Washington Academy, we value the importance of careers education, information and guidance (CEIAG) to support our students in realising their potential and the routes they can take after their GCSEs. We want to ensure our students have the opportunity to explore their career ideas and the pathways available to them through a variety of interactions and activities, both here in school and externally through our excellent network of partners and employers.  

Moreover, our students are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community. We challenge all of our students to look for opportunities to show the school values and seek leadership opportunities within the school gates and their local community. 

Curriculum Overview

Year 7

• Autumn Term 1:  Living in the Wider World
• Autumn Term 2: Living in the Wider World
• Spring Term 1: Health and wellbeing
• Spring Term 2: Health and wellbeing
• Summer Term 1: Relationship and Sex Education
• Summer Term 2: Relationship and Sex Education

Year 8

• Autumn Term 1:  Living in the Wider World
• Autumn Term 2: Living in the Wider World
• Spring Term 1: Health and wellbeing
• Spring Term 2: Health and wellbeing
• Summer Term 1: Relationship and Sex Education
• Summer Term 2: Relationship and Sex Education

Year 9

• Autumn Term 1: Health and Wellbeing
• Autumn Term 2: Health and Wellbeing
• Spring Term 1: Relationship and Sex Education
• Spring Term 2: Relationship and Sex Education
• Summer Term 1: Relationship and Sex Education
• Summer Term 2: Relationship and Sex Education

Year 10

• Autumn Term 1:  Health and Wellbeing
• Autumn Term 2:  Living in the Wider World
• Spring Term 1: Relationship and Sex Education
• Spring Term 2:  Living in the Wider World
• Summer Term 1: Living in the world
• Summer Term 2: Health and Wellbeing

Year 11

• Autumn Term 1:  Living in the Wider World
• Autumn Term 2: Relationships and Sex Education
• Spring Term 1: Living in the Wider World
• Spring Term 2:  Health and Wellbeing
• Summer Term 1:  Living in the Wider World
• Summer Term 2:  Final preparation for GCSE examinations