The Stephen Longfellow Academy is committed to providing a robust and creative curriculum for Shaping Character, which encompasses several areas, including Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE), Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), Modern British Values (MBV), Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Education (SMSC), and Citizenship. In compliance with statutory requirements for PSHE and RSHE, our Shaping Character curriculum is designed to provide our students with a comprehensive understanding of their place in the world and to foster their personal awareness and self-worth. Our aim is to empower students to make informed choices and decisions both now and in the future. The curriculum is structured around three themes, namely, ‘Health and Wellbeing’, ‘Relationships’, and ‘Living in the Wider World’. It is delivered through various means, including weekly PSHE/RSHE Lessons, group and individual CIEAG (careers) form time activities, topical assemblies, and extra-curricular activities.

Although the curriculum is thoroughly planned and mapped, we remain flexible and responsive to emerging concerns or trends, as well as the needs of our students and their communities. Form time activities are intended to facilitate high-quality discussions and debates among learners, focusing on the PSHE curriculum, current affairs, and topics relevant to the academy’s needs. Through these planned discussions, students develop their cultural capital, appreciation, and understanding of Modern British Values, including British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. The spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development of our learners is at the heart of the planning and implementation of these activities. We aim to ensure that learners become valuable and fully rounded members of society, who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background, and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.

At The Stephen Longfellow Academy, we are committed to delivering a comprehensive and holistic Personal Development curriculum, which empowers our students to thrive and succeed both academically and personally.