Personal Development
At Plympton Academy, the personal development curriculum is seen as an important part of a student's experience at Plympton Academy as we prepare students for the next steps in their life journey.
All students spend two sessions each day with their tutor. In the morning, the focus is on reading and with their tutor reading to them from a wide range of titles which are specifically selected to enhance their learning across the curriculum. Through their time at the academy, students will read classic novels, modern fiction on a variety of themes and a range of non-fiction titles including Malala Yousafzai's autobiography. The reading programme will help students to broaden their literature horizons.
During the second tutorial session students will have their year group assemblies, take part in preparation for life and careers sessions and will work on projects led by their tutor.
We also run regular events throughout the year including our Personal Development weeks; Black History Month; LGBTQ+ History Month; E Safety Week; Children's Mental Health Week and Water Safety week amongst others.
If you have any questions about our Personal Development provision, please contact Mr Hartley (hartleyi@plympton.academy)
Preparation for Life
Our preparation for life curriculum is where we deliver the statutory relationships, sexual education and healthy lifestyles curriculum. We operate a spiralised curriculum, so that students visit the same theme each year in an age appropriate way. Our curriculum is based on the PSHE Association's guidance and uses a range of resources including material from Brook Learn; Coppafeel; the NSPCC; Oddballs Foundation; the RNLI and the Teenager Cancer Trust alongside the Your Choice and Exploring PSHE textbooks.
The sessions are delivered by Form Tutors in an inclusive manner and the curriculum is reviewed each year following input from students, tutors and parents. If you have any questions about the content of the Preparation for Life curriculum, please speak to your Head of Year or Mr Hartley who is the overall PSHE lead.
Personal Development Weeks
We run two Personal Development weeks each year. In October the timetable is collapsed with year groups exploring particular themes which are run by departments / year groups.
Year 7: Residential
Year 8: Arts Week
Year 9: Human Rights
Year 10: Preparing for the world of work
Year 11: Preparing for Success
Year 12 / 13: Preparing for Success
In February, students in years 7-9 take part in a range of workshops based on the Citizenship, Financial and RSE / Healthy Lifestyles curriculum.
During both weeks students have the opportunity to work with a range of charities and outside agencies including the Holocaust Memorial Trust; Oddballs and the Moneysense Team.
Challenge Week
Challenge Week runs from Monday 27th June. All students in years 7-9 have the opportunity to take part in a range of activities including a theme park residential, crafting, sports based and environmental sessions.
For further information:
Please contact the challenge week co-ordinator Ms House (housea@plympton.academy) if you have any questions.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
From Year 9, all students are able to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
More information about the award scheme can be found here: https://www.dofe.org/
Year 9, 10 and 12 students can sign up to the scheme until Friday 25th March 2022. Applications will then open again in September.
D of E Programme Ideas:
If you have any questions about the scheme, please contact our Duke of Edinburgh Award Manager Ms Stark (starkr@plympton.academy).
Extra-Curricular Activities
Our Extra-Curricular programme is updated at the start of every term. The current programme can be found here:
Charity Work
We are very proud of our charity work. Our charity of the year is the RNLI for which we are holding fundraising events throughout the year. We also raise money for Children in Need, Comic Relief and other events throughout the year.