Personal Development

Allotment Education at Westbury Academy is a valued enrichment opportunity that takes place within the school’s own allotment, including access to a polytunnel. Pupils take part in hands-on learning experiences where they explore how plants grow, understand the importance of bees and pollination, and develop an appreciation for nature and the local community. These sessions encourage active engagement while promoting environmental awareness and sustainability.

Through accessing allotment education, pupils develop positive peer relationships and a strong sense of responsibility as they care for plants and shared spaces. The allotment is also used for wellbeing sessions, providing pupils with a calm outdoor environment to reflect and regulate.

Pupil voice is gathered regularly, particularly following wellbeing interventions, with pupils expressing enjoyment of hands-on learning, being outdoors, and learning about the importance of plants and the natural world.

Assemblies take place every Friday as well as whole school assemblies at the end of every term. Pupils regularly take part in celebration assemblies that focus on kindness, themed events/days, British Values, and celebration of good work awards.

Assemblies provide regular opportunities for pupils to develop the Trust Values of Confidence, Challenge, Curiosity, Character and Creativity.

Pupil voice is promoted throughout assemblies, with pupils engaging regularly in discussions and activities during assemblies. Alongside this, some assemblies provide pupils with the opportunity to perform, such as when a pupil in year four read their own poem in front of the whole school!

British Values are embedded across Westbury Academy and are taught through a range of planned opportunities including assemblies, PSHE lessons, themed days, curriculum links, and daily interactions within school life. Pupils explore democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs through discussions, real-life scenarios, and whole-school events.

These experiences help pupils to develop their:
• Respect: For others’ beliefs, cultures, and opinions
• Responsibility: Through understanding rules, rights, and consequences
• Confidence: In expressing views and making informed choices
• Tolerance: By learning about diversity and equality
• Citizenship: By understanding their role within the community

Pupil voice is actively promoted through class discussions, feedback activities as well as through our school council. During the summer term, pupils run campaigns before taking part in a voting day, reinforcing democracy in action. The school council then meets throughout the year to debate key topics and drive meaningful change within the school community.

Celebrating Birthdays at Westbury Academy is an important part of school life and supports the development of a positive and inclusive community. Pupils’ birthdays are acknowledged and celebrated within their form groups through shared celebrations, cake, and the singing of “Happy Birthday.” These moments allow pupils to feel recognised and valued as individuals, while strengthening relationships within their classes.

Celebrating birthdays helps to foster a sense of belonging and community across the school, supporting pupils’ emotional wellbeing and positive connections with peers and staff.

Pupil voice highlights the impact of these celebrations, with pupils commenting that recognising both staff and pupils’ birthdays makes the school feel like a “big family.”

Themed Days and Awareness Events at Westbury Academy take place throughout the academic year and include Mental Health Week, World Book Day, the Christmas Fair, Autism Speaks, and Red Nose Day. These events are embedded across the school and provide pupils with meaningful opportunities to engage in themed learning activities and whole-school celebrations.

Through celebrating these events, pupils are exposed to a range of charities and businesses, further developing their understanding of the wider world and the importance of social responsibility.

Pupil voice is gathered through floor books, classroom discussions, tutor time, and assemblies, with pupils expressing that they enjoy the themed days and value the immersive approach to learning.

The Challenge Awards are part of the wider cultural and PD curriculum at Westbury Academy and intended to secure a breadth of cultural experiences for pupils beyond ‘luck of the draw’ opportunities, staff interests or extra-curricular activities; ensuring continued provision of cultural experiences which are accessible to all.

The curriculum is part of the wider personal development offer of the Academy and incorporates opportunities to develop life skills, learn about British Values, and what it means to be part of a diverse society. Through the Challenge Awards, pupils will have the chance to expand their cultural capital; contributing to school life, and our wider community as they progress through the school and prepare for adulthood.

Fundraising for Charity at Westbury Academy is an integral part of school life, with pupils regularly taking part in events to raise money for a range of charities, including Children in Need, Red Nose Day, and Macmillan. Fundraising activities include coffee mornings, competitions, bake sales, and fancy-dress days, allowing pupils to engage in meaningful and enjoyable experiences while supporting important causes.

Taking part in fundraising activities helps pupils to develop empathy and a deeper understanding of others, while also encouraging them to see themselves as active and responsible members of society.

Pupil voice highlights strong enjoyment of these events, with pupils expressing pride and confidence in being able to contribute and give to others through the fundraising opportunities provided.

The Christmas Fair is an annual whole-school event at Westbury Academy and has been running for over ten years. Each year, form groups across the school collaborate to create games, competitions, stalls, decorations, food produce, and items to sell. Pupils are involved in planning and creating their stalls, as well as considering costs, profits, and effective ways to advertise their ideas.

Parents, carers, key stakeholders, and members of the local community are invited to attend the Christmas Fair, sharing in the celebrations and supporting the school community.

Pupil voice shows that pupils enjoy taking part in enterprise projects such as the Christmas Fair and Westbury Goes Green, with many expressing that it is a highlight of the school year and an event they look forward to annually.

At Westbury Academy, we deliver a cyber security programme across the whole school which is designed to equip pupils with the knowledge, awareness and skills needed to stay safe in an increasingly digital world. This is taught through a combination of informative lessons, hands-on experiences and engagement in national events such as Cyber Week. In addition, pupils receive regular input through Phase assemblies, ensuring that learning is reinforced across the whole school.

Through accessing these sessions, pupils develop a range of key skills, knowledge and understanding:

• Problem solving and critical thinking
• Digital literacy and technical skills, knowledge and understanding
• Cyber awareness and personal responsibility

Pupil voice plays a key role in shaping our cyber security offer. Their thoughts and reflections are captured through classroom discussions, workbooks and displays throughout school. This helps ensure the programme remains engaging, relevant and responsive to their experiences.

The Raleigh Education Trust Festival of Learning is a month-long celebration of learning across the Raleigh Education Trust, held in July and bringing together colleagues and pupils alongside a range of visiting providers.

Pupils have access to learning opportunities across the wider trust, both within their own classrooms and out of school, engaging with local providers to offer an extended curriculum of workshops and taster sessions through in-school events, events hosted by a Trust school, simultaneous and asynchronous activities.

The visibility of adult learning through cross-trust lesson and workshop planning and experience gained from working with outside providers promotes a culture of life-long learning and collaboration across the Trust.

Past activities have included cycling, Medical Mavericks workshops, pond-dipping, artist workshops and an Orchestra of Objects.

Some of the educational visits offered by the school include visits to galleries and museums, such as Derby Museum and Nottingham Contemporary.

These experiences provide pupils with opportunities to engage with learning beyond the classroom in meaningful and inspiring ways. By exploring exhibitions, artefacts, and artworks, pupils develop critical thinking and observational skills as they analyse information, interpret visual material, and form their own ideas and opinions. Exposure to a wide range of historical, cultural, and contemporary works also enhances pupils’ cultural awareness and understanding of different perspectives. In addition, these visits spark curiosity and encourage creativity, inspiring pupils to ask questions, think imaginatively, and make connections to their learning back in school. Overall, gallery and museum visits enrich pupils’ educational experiences while supporting both their academic and personal development.

Pupil voice is captured through floor books, trip evaluation forms and tutor times. Pupils commonly report that they enjoy having the opportunity to learn and see things that they would never usually see.

Healthy Eating is embedded across Westbury Academy and is promoted through lessons, assemblies, and daily routines within the school. Pupils learn about balanced diets, nutritional information, portion control, and the benefits of making healthy choices for physical and mental wellbeing. Opportunities such as cooking activities, tasting sessions, and healthy snack preparation encourage pupils to apply their knowledge in practical ways.

Through the promotion of Healthy Eating across the school, pupils develop their:
• Knowledge of nutrition, food groups, and healthy lifestyles
• Responsibility in making informed choices about what they eat
• Confidence in preparing and trying new foods
• Independence through planning and preparing healthy meals
• Wellbeing by understanding the link between diet, energy, and focus

Pupil voice is collected through assemblies, classroom discussions and floor books.

At Westbury Academy, developing a love of reading for pleasure is a key priority and is supported through a range of carefully planned activities. World Book Day is celebrated across a full week, with activities including an author visit, a Scholastic Book Fair, book cover design competitions, and the much-loved dressing-up day.

Pupils also take part in a daily 15-minute reading session, during which they may read independently, read to a member of staff, or engage in whole-class reading. In addition, a reading club takes place in the Wellbeing Hub, where older pupils are encouraged to support and read with younger pupils. The recent introduction of the school library has further promoted reading for enjoyment and independent book choices.

Through these opportunities, pupils are supported in developing a lifelong love of reading, helping them to become confident, independent readers and preparing them for adulthood.

Pupil voice plays an important role in shaping reading provision across the school, influencing both class texts and library purchases. For example, a noticeable increase in interest in Dog Man novels led to the purchase of a set to be used across the school to further support pupil engagement in reading.

Reward Trips at Westbury Academy take place at the end of every term and are designed to celebrate pupils’ positive behaviour, effort, and engagement. Throughout each term, pupils earn points through the school’s behaviour system, recorded on point cards, to determine eligibility for the reward trip. Pupils are motivated to demonstrate positive choices, good conduct, and commitment to learning, understanding that their efforts contribute directly to accessing these experiences.

The reward trips provide pupils with enriching opportunities such as go-karting, cinema visits, and trips to the zoo; experiences that pupils may not always have the opportunity to access outside of school. These trips support personal development by building confidence, social skills, and independence while allowing pupils to celebrate their achievements alongside their peers.

Pupil voice highlights strong enjoyment and motivation, with pupils describing reward trips as something they “work towards” and a positive way to recognise their success.

Social and Teamwork Development at Westbury Academy is supported through a wide range of opportunities that promote collaboration, communication, and mutual respect. The academy fosters a positive learning environment where teamwork is embedded into everyday practice, including peer discussions within PSHE lessons that encourage pupils to confidently share their thoughts, feelings, and opinions while listening to and valuing the views of others.

In addition, pupils regularly take part in sporting competitions such as basketball, football, and table cricket. These experiences promote teamwork, cooperation, and sportsmanship, while also supporting the development of social skills through interaction with peers both within Westbury Academy and with pupils from other schools. Pupil voice is gathered through floor books, trip evaluation forms, assemblies, and tutor time, with pupils frequently expressing that these opportunities help them feel part of a team.

Sports Day takes place during the second summer term and is a whole-school event held at Harvey Hadden, involving Years 3 to 10. All pupils take place in a range of track and field events. All participants are included in every event and are actively encouraged by staff and classmates throughout the day.

Through engaging with Sports Day, pupils develop their:
• Teamwork: By working collaboratively across age groups
• Confidence: In taking part and performing in front of others
• Resilience: By persevering and trying their best in all events
• Sportsmanship: Through encouraging others and celebrating effort
• Leadership: As older pupils support and guide younger pupils around the events

At the end of the summer sports day 2024, pupils stated that they felt ‘proud’ of themselves, and they enjoyed feeling part of a team.

Tutor Time at Westbury Academy provides a structured and purposeful start to the school day, offering consistency, wellbeing support, and opportunities to build positive relationships between pupils and staff. Sessions are planned around five core areas: Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction, Physical and Sensory Development, SEMH, and Social Interaction. As part of Tutor Time, all pupils are offered a hot drink and toast, supporting wellbeing and ensuring pupils are ready to engage, focus, and access their learning throughout the day.

Through daily participation in Tutor Time, pupils develop their:
• Routines: Through a consistent and supportive start to the day
• Wellbeing: By having needs met in a calm environment
• Communication: Through daily interactions and discussions
• Independence: In preparing for learning and the day ahead
• Social skills: By building and developing positive relationships with peers and adults

When speaking to pupils about the impact of tutor time, one pupil stated, “being greeted by my teachers with a smiley face always starts my day off right”.

At Westbury Academy, there is a strong focus on promoting pupil wellbeing, underpinned by a clear commitment to supporting children’s emotional health and personal development. The Wellbeing Hub offers a range of carefully planned interventions designed to meet the individual needs of pupils.

Support available through the Wellbeing Hub includes Lego therapy, ELSA sessions, Drawing and Talking, counselling, wellbeing workshops delivered by the Mental Health Support Team (MHST), and art therapy sessions. These interventions provide pupils with opportunities to explore their emotions, develop coping strategies and build resilience within a safe and nurturing environment. The Hub is a supportive space where pupils can seek help for challenges they may be facing, knowing they will be listened to and supported appropriately.

During break times, the Wellbeing Hub operates an open-door policy, allowing pupils to access the space if they need time to regulate, be creative or take a moment for themselves. In addition, a therapy dog in training visits the school two mornings each week and has been warmly received by pupils. Pupil voice highlights the positive impact of this provision, with pupils reporting increased emotional understanding and confidence.

The Westbury Academy Summer Exhibition is an annual, whole-school art competition and exhibition, attended by parents, carers and extended members of the school community, including expert judges.

Pupils from across the school enter a wide range of artwork in categories including sculpture, photography, open choice of medium, and an annual theme, such as ‘out of the box’, or ‘celebration’. This is an opportunity for pupils to showcase their creativity from the classroom and work they have worked on independently.

Alongside the art competition is a presentation of work from the GCSE Art coursework, showcasing the achievements of our pupils and demonstrating work younger pupils can aspire to achieve.

Westbury Goes Green is an annual whole-school event at Westbury Academy, held during the Festival of Learning week. Each year, form groups work collaboratively to create games, stalls, food produce, and items to sell linked to the 5 R’s: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle. Pupils are involved in planning and creating their stalls, while also considering costs, profits, sustainability, and effective ways to advertise their ideas.

Parents, carers, key stakeholders, and members of the local community are invited to attend the event, supporting and celebrating the wider school community.

Pupil voice highlights strong engagement in enterprise projects such as Westbury Goes Green and the Christmas Fair, with one pupil describing it as their “favourite part of summer.”