Personal Development at The Cornerstone Academy

The Cornerstone Academy Curriculum for PD is based on the curriculum guidance from the PSHE association. It ensures that students at The Cornerstone Academy cover the SRE statutory guidance during their time at The Academy. The PD curriculum develops the students' knowledge and skills to keep themselves healthy, safe and prepared for life and work. The Cornerstone Academy PD Curriculum has a focus on identity and equality which supports the Equality Act of 2010 and it also covers many safeguarding issues such as online safety, child sexual exploitation, extremism and FGM which supports the ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.  

The Cornerstone Academy Curriculum for PD will cover: 

• Health and Wellbeing 

• Relationships 

• Living in the Wider World. 

Students will cover the following themes during their time at The Academy :

Year 7

• Valuing myself and others - Different viewpoints, Extreme viewpoints, Diverse communities, Risk taking
• Responsibilities and Values - Personal strengths, skills and values, Healthy choices, Vaccinations, Roles within a family, Boundaries, Finances
• Amplifying voices- Mental Health, Social media and self image, Portrayal in the media, When things go wrong online, Ethics of the finance industry
• Making safe choices -  Images portrayed online, Consent and law, Personal safety, First aid, Privacy and boundaries
• Growing and Thriving -  FGM, Peer influence and consent, Triggers of unhealthy coping behaviours, Puberty, Gender and sexuality, Bullying and its impact 
• Healthy Futures - Responsibility for physical health, A balance diet, Positive and negative use of drugs Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Different types of employment

Year 7 receive 3 additional lessons from RespectEd a local charity which provides high quality relationship and sex education. The themes covered for year 7 are Friendship, Peer Pressure, Sexting and Grooming and online safety
Prior to any Sex and Relationship topics being taught, a letter is sent home to parents to consult. 

Year 8 

• Mental Well-being -  Mental health, stress, self esteem, body image, eating disorders and managing loss 
• Prejudice and Discrimination - ageism, disability discrimination, racism, religious discrimination and rights and responsibilities 
• Careers and Money and Finance - Advertising and consumer choices, Needs and Wants, Fair trade, Financial decision making and career choices 
• First Aid and Drugs Education - Emergency First Aid, Basic First Aid, Drugs and the law, Cannabis - Gateway drug and Peer pressure 
• Sex and Relationship Education - Positive and stable relationships, Pressure, Consent, Contraception, internet safety and Grooming 
• Internet Safety - Radicalisation and extremism, Social Media and Fake news 

Year 8 receive 3 additional lessons from RespectEd a local charity which provides high quality relationship and sex education. The themes covered for year 8 are Fake News, Social Media, Body Image, Pornography and Healthy Relationships.
Prior to any Sex and Relationship topics being taught, a letter is sent home to parents to consult. 

Year 9 

• Sex and Relationship Education - Consent, STIs, Teenage Pregnancy, Sexting, Dangers of pornography 
• Careers - Employment types, Aspirations, Options at Post 16, Options for KS4, Employability skills 
• Personal Safety  - Risk taking, Gangs County Lines, Knife Crime and Self harm 
• Drugs Education - Peer Pressure and social expectations, Risks associated with drink and drugs, Legal Highs, Impact on the individual and society. 

Year 9 receive 2 additional double lessons from RespectEd a local charity which provides high quality relationship and sex education. The themes covered for year 9 are Unplanned Pregnancy, Contraception, STIs, Emotional Well being 
Prior to any Sex and Relationship topics being taught, a letter is sent home to parents to consult. 

Year 10 

• Sex and Relationship Education - LGBTQ+, Consent, Victim Blaming, Sexual Harassment, Peer on Peer Abuse 
• Careers Education - Work experience focus, CV writing, Preparing for the workplace (Health and Safety in the work place) 
• Drugs Education - The law on drugs - supply/future career, Risk of alcohol consumption, Addiction and dependency, Gambling and Financial Debt 

Prior to any Sex and Relationship topics being taught, a letter is sent home to parents to consult. 

Year 11

• Drugs Education - Emergency First Aid following alcohol/drug misuse, Long term drug related issues, 
• Sex and Relationships Education - This is run by RespectEd charity
• Emotional Well being - Mindfulness, Exam Pressure and how to deal with it, Forgiveness and Conflict resolution. 

Year 11 receive 3 additional lessons (as a collapsed off timetable day) from RespectEd a local charity which provides high quality relationship and sex education. The themes covered for year 11 are Consent, Pornography, Commitment and Respect. 

For further information about Personal Development, please contact