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 one session each day with their tutor which takes place at the end of the day.
During these tutorial session students will have their year group assemblies, take part in preparation for life and careers sessions; discuss a range of issues in the weekly 'Votes for Schools' debate and reflect on their week using their Be Your Best Self Journals.
We also run regular events throughout the year including our Personal Development weeks; Black History Month; LGBTQ+ History Month; International Womens' Day; 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; Ms Sarah Sheppherd who is Head of PSHE or Mr Ian Hartley (Assistant Principal Character and Culture)
Personal Development Weeks
We run one Personal Development week 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
Challenge Week
In 2024 Challenge Week will run from Monday 8th July. This section will be updated nearer the time.
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 Mr Strachan (jim.strachan@plymptonacademy.tsat.uk)
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 charities of the Year are Cancer Research UK and Macmillan, and we will be holding a number of fundraising events throughout the year. We also raise money for Children in Need, Comic Relief and other events throughout the year.