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Developing knowledge, skills and personal attributes

Curriculum

Life Skills education is the core subject through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and personal attributes they need to keep them healthy and safe. It is during our life skills lessons that we are preparing the pupils for the wider world; and help them to manage their lives now and in the future. Evidence shows that well-delivered life skills programmes have an impact on both academic and non-academic outcomes for pupils.

At Amesbury as part of the teaching we use the Thoughtbox programme from Year 1 to Year 8 and a course largely based on the only DFE approved curriculum from the PSHE Association. The overarching aim to develop our children’s ability to be reflective, to think independently, collaboratively, critically and make informed choices regarding personal, social, economic and health issues. It is our aim at Amesbury to equip our pupils to cope with those tricky ‘crunch moments’ and to have ‘courageous conversations’ as they mature. This all helps children to develop the necessary characteristics and skills that will ensure their safety and give them the knowledge needed to cope in our society.

Our approach is focused on pupils becoming more aware of their emotions in real situations, of how they interact with each other, and then learning how to reflect and interact more effectively in social settings. What we think, affects the way that we behave. We consider it important, therefore, that the children are given the space and the opportunity to develop the skills and ability to think and reflect. Pupils are also given the opportunity to disclose any worries they may have and are given the opportunity to confidentially ask any further questions about any life skills topic at the end of each lesson. This allows staff to become aware of a pupil’s concern and allows staff to act on every matter that arises
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Amesbury award

The Amesbury Award is taught within the Life Skills Department as a second lesson from Year 1 to Year 8. This involves team building, global religious studies, changing me, forest schools, friendship and communication, values and opinions, work with the community including within our own Amesbury community (Little Amesbury), current affairs, wellbeing, environment, and an expedition for Years 7 and 8 (Duke of Edinburgh light).

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Head of department

Life Skills is taught as an academic lesson by the dedicated Life Skills team, headed by Sarah Page. She firmly believes in the benefits of educating ‘the Whole Child’ and how this enables a child to develop into becoming a safer, well-rounded, resilient, successful and happy adult. She is very passionate about the pastoral care system within a school and ‘supporting the individual’.