Personal Development

Personal Development
 
At Ellwood Community Primary School we take the Personal Development of our pupils very seriously. We plan opportunities for the children to develop their personal development in a range of ways, such as: building resilience, developing their ambitions, teaching them to be respectful and inclusive, trying new activities, taking part in new events, visiting new places, developing new skills, making new friends, developing their confidence and encouraging them to work out of their comfort zone. We want the children to see what the world has to offer and embrace any new opportunities that come their way. 

 

We do this in a number of ways:
 

  • developing responsible, respectful and active citizens

  • promoting equality of opportunity

  • promoting an inclusive environment

  • developing pupils’ character, giving them qualities they need to flourish in society

  • developing pupils’ confidence and resilience so that they can keep themselves mentally healthy

  • preparing pupils for the next phase of education

  • well developed RSE and PSHE curriculum
 
 Evidence of this can be found by looking at:
 

  • the range, quality and take-up of extracurricular activities

  • the opportunities we provide for our pupils to develop their character

  • how our curriculum subjects contribute to pupils’ personal development

  • the quality of the guidance and support we give all pupils

 
As a school, we provide really good personal development opportunities for the children at at Ellwood Community Primary School . We:

  • Provide a curriculum which extends beyond the academic, providing for pupils’ broader development and wider development such as trips and visits

  • Plan the curriculum and wider work of the school to support the pupils to be confident, resilient and independent

  • Ensure there is high-quality pastoral support within the school for all children who need it

  • Strive to prepare children for life in modern Britain and British values, and for them to understand how to be responsible, active citizens that contribute positively to society

  • Pride ourselves on promoting inclusion, equality and diversity within the school

  • Give our children opportunities and guidance so that they are prepared for future success in education, employment or training as they transition through their next stages in life

  • Make links within the school community and beyond to develop citizenship  - this is with a wide range of people of all different ages and interests e.g. residential homes/charities/local twinning organisation
  • We give all children in school a wide selection of opportunities and activities which develop their talents, skills and experiences beyond the classroom
  • Instill a love of learning and plan in SMSC opportunities across the subjects, medium, term plans and school
  • A well planned PSHE and RSE curriculum which promotes a number of aspects linked to personal development such as; safety, physical health and mental health, risk taking, changes in their own body, values, choices, drugs
  • Have high expectations for all and help children self regulate and understand their emotions

 

We offer a variety of clubs to enhance children's personal development. 

 

2023/24

 

 

Biking

Choir

Colouring club

Dance

Multi Sports

Gardening Club 

Friday Fun with breakfast

Art

Biking

Yoga

Phonics Booster

SATS booster

Gardening Club 

Friday Fun with breakfast

Netball

Rounders

Lego

 

 

Visitors

Champion Mountain Biker

PC Tom

Open the book

Reverend Michelle 

Food Bank

Authors

 

Trips 2023/24

 

Pantomime

Dark Hill

Perrygrove

Literature festival

Viney Hill

Whitemead

Cattle Country 

Sling cafe

Residential home

Local forest 

Dean Heritage visit

Dean academy 

 

Ofsted 

"Leaders have carefully considered the schools offer beyond the academic. Pupils are taught about morality through scenario based learning . They learn about other cultures such as through a drumming event when learning about the continent of Africa . Pupils enjoy forest experience sessions . They benefit from trips to t he Dean Heritage Centre to learn about local history. Pupils l earn about personal space and healthy relationships .Because of this, pupils are prepared for later life".
Festival of Words 
 
Congratulations to our winners! We are proud of their creativity and hard work. 
It was wonderful to hear their short stories being read aloud at the presentation evening by a local Author. 

 

Parent feedback October 2023

 

Strongly agree/Agree

Strongly Agree/

Agree

Disagree/

Strongly Disagree

Don’t know
 

My child is happy at this school (95%)

95%

 

5%

 

0%
 

My child feels safe at school (95%)

95%

0

5%
 

The pupils behave well (84%)

84%

5%

11%
 

Points - My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

10%

9%

75% N/A/ Other

 
 

The school makes me aware of what my child will be learning throughout the year (93%)

93%

4%

3%
 

When I have raised concerns with the school they have dealt with it properly (77%) 10% don’t know

77%

13%

 

10% (N/A)
 

My child has SEND and the school gives them the support they need to succeed

20%

 

0%

 

   80%

(N/A or Don’t know)
 

The school has high expectations for my child (81%) 18% - don’t know

81%

 

6%

 

18%
 

My child does well at this school (89%) 6%  don’t know

89%

5%

6%
 

The school lets me know how my child is doing (91%) 3% don’t know

91%

6%

 

3%
 

There is a good range of subjects available (91%) 3% don’t know

91%

6%

 

3%
 

My child can take part in clubs, events and activities at this school (80%) 5% don’t know

91%

5%

 

5%
 

My school supports my child’s wider development (94%) 1% don’t know

94%

 

5%

 

1%
 

I would recommend this school to another parent (86%) 8% don’t know

86%

6%

 

8%

128 Pupils completed the Wellbeing questionnaire. (green linked to safety/safeguarding)

Question number:

Statement:

Agree or Completely Agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree

1

I know what is expected of me at school.

91%

4%

5%

2

I have everything that I need for school (e.g. equipment, uniform, PE kit etc.)

95%

2%

3%

3

I feel safe in school.

88%

8%

4%

4

There is someone at school who cares about me.

89%

8%

3%

5

I enjoy coming to school.

78%

13%

9%

6

The staff are nice to the pupils at school.

93%

4%

3%

7

Pupils behave well at school.

73%

20%

7%

8

There is someone I can talk to if I need help at school.

91%

4%

5%

9

The pupils are nice to each other at school.

80%

16%

4%

10

People listen to me at school.

86%

5%

9%

11

I generally enjoy school.

80%

10%

10%

12

I am doing well at school.

92%

6%

2%

13

I can cope with my school work.

87%

8%

5%

14

I feel happy at school.

87%

9%

4%

15

I know what to do if I feel worried about something at school.

93%

5%

2%

16

I feel like people notice when I have done well at school.

82%

12%

6%

17

I feel that I am treated fairly at school.

83%

6%

11%
Parent Feedback October 2023
 
94% (1% didn't know) said that the supports my child's wider development. 

Ellwood Community Primary School

Believe, Achieve, Belong

 

 

Wider Opportunities

 

 

At Ellwood community primary school we have six values: Responsibility, Friendship, Respect, Resilience, Kindness and Honesty.

They underpin our practice, guiding how we deal with day to day life in a primary school.

When looking at our curriculum driver ‘Our place in our area and in the wider world’ we aim to deliver a wide range of opportunities to the children at Ellwood School. Some of these are :

  • Forest adventures
  • Sporting opportunities
  • Pantomime trips
  • Sporting competitions- mountain biking, cross country, gymnastics, football and many more
  • Gymnastics at Forest of Dean Gymnastics and Fitness Centre
  • Cycling sessions
  • Experience days- archery, curling
  • Swimming at Heywood
  • Gamelan
  • African craft experience day
  • Christmas performance at Whitemead
  • Whole school trips – Wild place project
  • Local history sessions
  • Science week exploration activities
  • Nasa science sessions
  • Residential
  • Outdoor adventures – Viney hill
  • Circus day
  • Visits to local sites
  • Dogs trust visits
  • Involvement of local community
  • Links with local schools –DT, computing
  • Geography Africa experience day
  • Visits from local residence- animal experience, owl and hedgehog
  • Cathedral /mosque visits /Visits to local churches
  • Reading rewards – bronze, silver, gold