As a Church School, Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School prides itself on the development of the ‘whole child’. Our Personal Development curriculum is designed to support students to become confident, healthy, resilient and respectful citizens, who are fully prepared for life and work and are ready to tackle the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” – Paul’s letter to the Galatians (Galatians 3:28)

“I am a citizen, not of Athens or Greece, but of the world” – Socrates

“How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”  – Anne Frank

Our intent is to:

• Ensure students have the knowledge and skills to empower students to make informed choices to enhance and enrich their own and other people’s lives.
• Develop a strength of character and resilience that will help students to overcome the challenges they are likely to encounter in adult life.
• Promote equality of opportunity, understanding that differences are positive and not negative and individual characteristics make people unique.
• Promote spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, increasing their awareness and self-confidence and create opportunities for students to explore their relationship with God.
• Help students develop independent skills and a positive attitude toward learning.
• Ensure that all students understand how to stay safe.
• Provide an appropriate range of guidance, opportunities and experiences to allow students to succeed in the next stage in their education, training or employment.
• Deliver an inclusive environment that meets the needs of all students, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation and where no discrimination exists.
• Prepare children for life in modern Britain. We will ensure that the fundamental British Values are introduced, discussed and lived out through the ethos and work of the school.
• Provide a range of opportunities and experiences which act as a vehicle for furthering understanding.
• Develop skills in communicating ideas and opinions to influence social change.
• Develop essential skills so students are work ready when they leave school.
• Develop student understanding of healthy relationships through age appropriate relationship and sex education.
• Enable students to recognise online and offline risks to their well-being, recognise the dangers of inappropriate use of mobile technology and social media and make them aware of the support available to them.
• Develop students understanding of how to keep physically healthy, eat healthily and maintain an active lifestyle.

We will achieve this through our whole school Personal Development offer as well as our structured Personal Development (PHSE) curriculum, bespoke tutor (The Inspire Programme,) the Post 16 programme, collective worship programme, enrichment initiatives (including our Wider Curriculum) and the support of specialist external bodies.

Student Rewards

Students receive house points, essential skills points, letters of commendation and termly certificates (bronze,silver,gold) for their part in becoming an active citizen and developing the skills needed for a successful future. . This leads to the school awards at the end of the year

Protected Characteristics

The personal development program ensures that all protected characteristics are represented and covered with respect. Age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are protected daily in school and students are taught about respect daily through our school rules.

As a church school we celebrate diversity and respect those of all backgrounds and identities remembering that ‘we’re all one in Christ’ 

Within the PD curriculum we cover equality, LGBTQ+, racism, multicultural societies, Islamophobia, prejudice and discrimination. All protected characteristics are represented within the curriculum throughout the school PD curriculum.

The Collective Worship program also covers key international focus days and weeks including Black History Month, Pride month and other events. We have our own LGBTQ+ Council.