Preparing our students for an ever changing and complex world is an important part of school life. In partnership with parents, ensuring our students are ready for the exciting opportunities they will have as young adults as well as the challenges and risks they will find in their path as they grow up is an intrinsic part of education.  

Under the Ofsted framework, ‘Personal Development’ is an overarching term used to describe the following curriculum areas:

• PSHE (Personal, Social, Health & Economic) Education
• Statutory RSE (Relationships Sex Education)
• Citizenship,
• SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural)
• British Values; inclusion
• Careers Information Education Advice and Guidance (CEIAG).
• Extra-Curricular Opportunities

These are all ways in which we can help students develop their own unique character and build on their social skills and understanding of others as well as their academic prowess. 

Personal Development isn’t confined to the classroom, and the experiences we endeavour to give our students happen both in timetabled lessons, as well as in extra-curricular activities. Below are some of the opportunities students in our school can join in with on their Personal Development journey with us:

• We hold Celebration assemblies at the end of each term to showcase every student’s success. Parents and students are also invited to join us in the Coronation Hall in Ulverston for both a lower and upper school prize giving evening annually to share our pride in student progress and achievement excellence in individual subjects.
   
• A wealth of PE clubs and competitions culminating in Sports Day in the summer where our 6 different houses compete against each other with an electric atmosphere from the whole school as they cheer along.
   
• Students are encouraged to join in with the Duke Of Edinburgh award at both Bronze and Gold level to try something completely new, help their community, test their limits, enhance their skills and grow their confidence.
   
• Performing Arts activities including all aspects of Music, Drama and Dance including opportunities to perform both locally and internationally. Drama also take part in visits to mesmerising theatre productions throughout the academic year too, and our Music department host spectacular performances with the Royal Marine Band and get everyone into the festive spirit with the Christmas Carol Concert.
   
• STEM, Computing and Engineering clubs within the school day, as well as roadshows with local businesses such as BAE, UlverSTEM and National Mathematics challenges.
   
• Channelling creativity with Textiles club, Art workshops, Positive Newspaper club and the opportunity to work with CandoFM to host the UVHS radio
   
• Annual themed days including National Poetry Day, Safer Internet Day and Pi Day.
   
• Charity fundraisers such as the whole School Sponsored Walk, the 5km fundraising run in January, our annual Foodbank donation in December, Christmas Jumper Day for Save The Children and Red Nose Day.
   
• The chance to see the world and embrace different cultures with MFL trips to Munich, France and Barcelona, A Level Geography experience the natural beauty of Iceland and the Art department visit galleries both in the UK and abroad.
   
• We prepare students for living in the wider world by paying our respects with the wider community during Remembrance, deepening their understanding of Black History Month, UK Schools Parliament Week, Holocaust Memorial Day, and keeping themselves safe with fireworks, cold water swimming and transport safety.