Document No:

Student/Apprentice Personal Development Policy

1. Induction

   • 1.1 Leicester College is committed to ensuring that all students/apprentices, regardless of age, level of learning and specific needs are provided with meaningful learning experiences, to enhance knowledge and skills beyond the purely academic, technical or vocational. These experiences will help to enrich the personal, professional, and social lives of students/apprentices and support development of cultural capital, enhancing the ability to achieve and succeed.

   • 1.2 This policy will complement the College’s Student Experience Strategy by identifying the activities and events offered to students and apprentices to develop personal development skills, preparing them for life in modern Britain, keeping themselves healthy and safe and supporting their next steps.

2. Principles

   • 2.1 All students and apprentices will be provided with an effective induction programme which includes the initial stages in demonstrating and assessing both academic and non-academic/personal skills.

   • 2.2 Post-induction, all students/apprentices will be given the opportunity to gain greater knowledge, skills and behaviours around their non-academic skills, through a variety of mechanisms, designed to meet individual need, which will be referred to as either the Personal Development Programme or Personal Development Offer, depending on the provision type.

   • 2.3 The personal development programme and personal development offer will focus on the following significant areas:

     • Developing responsible, respective and active citizens

     • Developing a deep understanding of the fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance

     • Promoting equality of opportunity and understanding difference

     • Promoting an inclusive environment

     • Developing character

     • Developing confidence, resilience and knowledge to keep mentally healthy

     • Developing understanding of how to keep physically healthy and maintain an active lifestyle

     • Developing age age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships

     • Providing an effective careers programme

     • Supporting readiness for next steps.

   • 2.4 This policy should be read in conjunction with the:

     • Induction and Personal Development Framework (Appendix 1)

     • Personal Development Roadmaps (Appendix 2 and 3)

     • Student/Apprentice Progress Review Policy

     • Careers, Progression and Employability Policy

     • Student/Apprentice Behaviour and Conduct Policy (inc Student/Apprentice Pledge)

     • Safeguarding and Prevent Policy

     • Equality and Diversity Policy.

3. Personal Development Programme (for Education Programmes for Young People and Apprenticeship provision)

   • 3.1 As part of induction activities, students will attend an ‘Induction event’, This will be in the form of a one-off event at the Sue Townsend theatre (or this can be done in areas through PD sessions in the first two weeks if curriculum areas choose not to attend the theatre). This gives students a large amount of essential information including the following:

     • Curriculum introduction

     • Principal’s address (Video recording of message from the principal.)

     • H&S team induction (separate PD presentation given to all areas)

     • Student services directorate induction

     • EDI induction

     • SET induction

     • Wellbeing induction

     • Careers/UCAS – pd bookable session available

   • 3.2 The Personal Development Programme will consist of a number of facilitation and delivery methods to provide students/apprentices with opportunities to achieve the goals outlined in the PDP. These methodologies will be a mixture of:

     • Mandatory facilitated group workshops

     • PDP-driven ‘pick n mix’ facilitated group workshops (organised at a curriculum/group level)

     • Self-facilitated modules via a digital learning platform (which can be undertaken by students individually or used to inform group content delivery)

     • College-wide scheduled workshops/events

     • Curriculum Area/Learning Coach organised trips/visits.

   • 3.3 These methodologies will be facilitated by:

     • Learning Coaches

     • The Student Enrichment Team

     • The Careers Team

     • The Aspire Team

     • Managers/Teachers/Tutors

     • Wider College staff.

   • 3.4 See appendix 1 for the EPYP template PD calendar.

4. Personal Development Offer (for Adult and Higher Education provision)

   • 4.1 Adult and Higher Education students will have access to the College’s Personal Development e-Hub which includes a non-mandatory Personal Development Skills Assessment. This resource is linked to the Induction and Personal Development Framework and provides a variety of e-learning modules which can support personal skills development.

   • 4.2 These students will also be enrolled on an external e-CPD system which will provide a variety of certificated CPD courses.

5. Embedding Personal Development into Vocational, Technical and Subject Specific Teaching

   • 5.1 Topics from the Induction and Personal Development Framework can be embedded into the wider curriculum by everyone facilitating teaching, learning and assessment activities. Additionally, the College’s thematic calendar will be available to support planning for learning.

   • 5.2 A centrally managed platform for staff is available to support teachers to embed softer skills into their teaching and learning. Regular training will also be provided to curriculum staff.

6. Tracking, Monitoring and Reviewing progress

   • 6.1 All personal development activities will be recorded either by the student/apprentice themselves or by a staff member who facilitated the experience (via ProMonitor – Enrichment and Personal Development Log).

   • 6.2 For EPYP students and apprentices, once the first PD/BA 1:1/Progress Review has taken place during term 1, each subsequent Progress Review will ascertain distance travelled, review existing targets and set new ones as appropriate – see Progress Review Policy.

7. Quality Assurance

   • 7.1 Deep Dive activity will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the Induction and Personal Development Programme/Offer implementation.

   • 7.2 The quality of the Personal Development Programme/Offer will be reviewed and evaluated on a regular basis through a variety of methods. This feedback will be shared to improve the student/apprentice experience.

8. Communication and Review of Policy

   • 8.1 The policy will be published on the College Intranet/College website and will be reviewed every three years or more frequently if required.

   • 8.2 This policy will be reviewed by the College’s Head of Personal Development and ELT.

Appendix 1 - Induction and Personal Development Framework

Appendix 2 - EPYP Personal Development Programme - Annual Road Map