Personal Development

At NSSFC, Personal Development is delivered through the Jigsaw PSHE programme, a carefully sequenced, spiral curriculum that promotes pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

We have adopted the Jigsaw model to:

  • Strengthen progression from Year 7 to Year 11

  • Embed a fully spiral curriculum

  • Ensure full compliance with statutory Relationships and Sex Education requirements

  • Prepare proactively for the updated 2026 RSE programme

  • Provide consistency in safeguarding, wellbeing and character education

Personal Development is delivered through:

  • Weekly tutor time sessions

  • A fortnightly drop-down carousel

  • Targeted safeguarding inputs

  • National awareness themes

  • Core Religious Studies lessons (where appropriate for RSE elements)

The programme is designed to ensure that pupils develop:

  • Emotional literacy and resilience

  • Respectful relationship skills

  • Knowledge of rights, responsibilities and the law

  • Physical and mental health awareness

  • Financial understanding and future planning skills

  • Confidence, agency and moral awareness

The Jigsaw programme follows a structured six-part lesson approach and includes reflection, discussion and mindful strategies to support self-regulation and wellbeing.

 

Key Stage 3

Personal Development in KS3 is delivered through the six Jigsaw “Puzzles” each year, building progressively in depth and complexity.

Year 7

Term Unit Focus
Autumn 1 Being Me in My World Identity, belonging, rights and responsibilities, community
Autumn 2 Celebrating Difference Diversity, equality, anti-bullying, respect
Spring 1 Dreams and Goals Aspirations, resilience, careers awareness
Spring 2 Healthy Me Physical health, sleep, nutrition, lifestyle
Summer 1 Relationships Friendships, boundaries, conflict resolution
Summer 2 Changing Me Puberty, body changes, emotional development

Year 8

Term Unit Focus
Autumn 1 Being Me in My World Community, democracy, personal responsibility
Autumn 2 Celebrating Difference Prejudice, discrimination, equality law
Spring 1 Dreams and Goals Careers pathways, motivation, perseverance
Spring 2 Healthy Me Substance awareness, healthy choices
Summer 1 Relationships Consent, peer pressure, online safety
Summer 2 Changing Me Adolescent development, emotional health

Year 9

Year 9 marks a more explicit bridge into GCSE-level thinking and deeper RSE content in preparation for Key Stage 4.

Term Unit Focus
Autumn 1 Being Me in My World Rights, responsibilities, adulthood preparation
Autumn 2 Celebrating Difference Equality Act, stereotypes, protected characteristics
Spring 1 Dreams and Goals Careers planning, financial literacy, resilience
Spring 2 Healthy Me Mental health, self-esteem, managing pressure
Summer 1 Relationships Healthy relationships, consent, power imbalance
Summer 2 Changing Me Sexual health, fertility, contraception, informed choices

Key Stage 4

Personal Development continues for all pupils in Years 10 and 11 through:

  • Tutor programme delivery

  • Carousel sessions

  • Safeguarding themes

  • RSHE statutory coverage

  • Careers and Post-16 preparation

Content becomes more legally and socially complex, including:

  • Consent and coercive control

  • Sexual health and contraception

  • Financial independence

  • Substance misuse legislation

  • Mental health awareness

  • Online harm and digital responsibility

  • Power and exploitation in relationships

  • First aid and emergency response

The Year 11 programme includes preparation for adulthood, understanding legal frameworks, and managing independence.

Year 10

Term Unit Focus
Autumn 1 Being Me in My World Rights and responsibilities in adulthood, British values, democracy, citizenship, safeguarding awareness
Autumn 2 Celebrating Difference Equality Act, discrimination, prejudice, protected characteristics, challenging intolerance
Spring 1 Dreams and Goals Post-16 pathways, careers planning, financial literacy, employability skills
Spring 2 Healthy Me Substance misuse, risk management, mental health strategies, stress management
Summer 1 Relationships Consent, coercion, healthy vs unhealthy relationships, online exploitation
Summer 2 Changing Me Sexual health, contraception, fertility, pregnancy choices, informed decision-making

Year 11

Term Unit Focus
Autumn 1 Being Me in My World Preparing for adulthood, legal rights and responsibilities, civic engagement
Autumn 2 Celebrating Difference Diversity in modern Britain, discrimination law, allyship and advocacy
Spring 1 Dreams and Goals Financial independence, budgeting, apprenticeships, university readiness
Spring 2 Healthy Me Managing exam stress, emotional resilience, personal wellbeing strategies
     
     

Sixth Form

Personal Development in Sixth Form is not delivered as a discrete core subject, but through:

  • Tutor programme

  • CEIAG and careers provision

  • Safeguarding and wellbeing sessions

  • Targeted RSE inputs

  • Assemblies and external speakers

Content focuses on:

  • Independent living

  • Financial responsibility

  • Healthy adult relationships

  • University and workplace readiness

  • Mental health and resilience

  • Safeguarding in adult contexts

Relationships and Sex Education

NSSFC’s Personal Development curriculum fully meets statutory requirements for Relationships and Sex Education as set out by the Department for Educatio

The spiral curriculum ensures that pupils revisit key themes including:

  • Families and stable relationships

  • Respectful relationships and consent

  • Online safety and media influence

  • Sexual health and reproductive knowledge

  • Mental wellbeing

  • Physical health and prevention

  • Drugs, alcohol and tobacco

  • Equality and protected characteristics

Content is delivered in an age-appropriate and developmentally sensitive manner, recognising the diverse needs of our pupils.

Our Intent

Through Personal Development at NSSFC, pupils will:

  • Develop emotional intelligence and resilience

  • Understand how to keep themselves safe

  • Build respectful and healthy relationships

  • Make informed choices about their futures

  • Understand their rights and responsibilities

  • Contribute positively to society

The curriculum equips pupils not only for examinations and qualifications, but for life beyond school.