Personal & Social Development

Pupils have regular lessons in personal and social development. The programme aims to instil in young people knowledge and understanding in key areas, whilst attempting to develop the skills needed to take increasing responsibility for their own lives and participate effectively in society. 

There are opportunities to participate in the formation of school policy through discussion. An elected school council meets regularly.

Leadership and team work

The Combined Cadet Force and The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme offer opportunities for every pupil to demonstrate resourcefulness in different situations.

Public speaking training also helps to ensure that senior girls and boys are ready to make their own mark in the world beyond school.

Active Minds in Healthy Bodies

Through consistent messages in lessons and through activities, we encourage pupils of all ages to lead a healthy, active life.

Sporting teams compete regularly with other schools in sports such as hockey, athletics, cricket, rugby, tennis and squash.

However sporting sucess is also measured by physical health and enjoyment. The Academy offers a great variety of sporting opportunity to tempt even those who do not think of themselves as competitive.

Each term there are also opportunities for physical activities such as judo, sailing, canoeing, mountaineering and scuba diving.

Challenging expeditions

Beyond these activities in school, expeditions and trips also play an important part in widening the experience of pupils.

Recent years have included a visit to China; history trips to the battlefields of the Great War; art visits to the great galleries of New York, Bilbao and Amsterdam; modern languages trips to France, Germany and Spain; climbing and walking expeditions in Iceland; trekking in India, Venezuela and Borneo, and sports tours to southern Africa, Australia and the Caribbean.

Each expedition offers young people the chance to look beyond the here and now; to learn as much about themselves as they do about their world.

Summary

These web pages underline our commitment to developing the skills and character of each pupil and to encouraging young people to be resourceful, independent learners.

We also emphasise the value of partnerships. Our aim is to ensure that every girl and boy can be a positive worker in a team, and can take the lead when the need or the opportunity arises.

• Teachers teach people, not just their subject.

• Pupils are encouraged to give their best in all that they undertake, but at the same time to respect the needs and the abilities of others.

• With the everyday support of parents and the steady messages at home which reinforce the long-established values of the Academy, pupils learn that working with other people brings out the best in them as individuals.