Personal Development

At St Barnabas Nursery and Primary, personal development is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to nurturing confident, kind and responsible young people who understand their place in the world and believe they can make a positive difference.

Our personal development provision is carefully planned, intentional and woven through daily school life. It supports pupils to grow academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually and is rooted in our Christian values of love, belonging and aspiration.

Pupil Voice With Real Influence

Pupil voice is strong and meaningful at St Barnabas. Pupils are represented through school council which have a clear purpose and outcomes. Children regularly share their views through discussions and surveys, and they can see how their ideas lead to real change in areas such as behaviour expectations, anti bullying approaches, enrichment opportunities and lunchtime provision.

Through this work, pupils learn about democracy, individual liberty and the importance of having a voice. They are encouraged to listen respectfully to others and to value different viewpoints, reflecting British values and our school values of love, belonging and aspiration.

Purposeful Leadership Opportunities For All

We provide a wide range of leadership roles so that many pupils experience responsibility and service. These include sports leaders, reading ambassadors, worship leaders, eco champions and digital leaders.

Leadership opportunities are inclusive and, where appropriate, rotate so that pupils build confidence, teamwork and a sense of responsibility over time. Pupils can talk about what they have learned through leadership, including cooperation, perseverance and helping others.

We are particularly proud that pupils from St Barnabas are active leaders within the Market Lavington Youth Council, working closely with the school to represent young people’s views and shape positive change within the local area.

Explicit Character Education

Personal qualities such as resilience, kindness, courage, respect, honesty and perseverance are taught explicitly and are closely linked to our school values of love, belonging and aspiration. These qualities are also rooted in the British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Through lessons, collective worship and class discussions, pupils learn to understand and respect the protected characteristics and celebrate diversity in all its forms. Children are taught to recognise discrimination, challenge stereotypes and treat everyone with fairness, dignity and compassion.

We celebrate examples of positive character across the school so that pupils understand what these values look like in action. As a result, pupils use this language naturally and behaviour reflects shared values.

Strong Oracy And Communication Culture

High quality spoken language is central to our approach. Pupils regularly engage in structured talk, discussion, debate, presentations, drama and performance. Classrooms are vocabulary rich environments where pupils are supported to articulate their thoughts clearly and respectfully.

Children are confident to express ideas, opinions and feelings and listen thoughtfully to others.

Mental Health And Emotional Literacy

We prioritise pupils’ emotional wellbeing through regular wellbeing check ins, emotion coaching approaches and access to calm spaces. Pupils are taught strategies to manage feelings, worries and challenges and understand that it is positive to talk about mental health.

Children can explain strategies they use to regulate emotions and know who to turn to for support.

Rich, Guaranteed Enrichment Entitlement

All pupils access a wide range of enrichment opportunities, including educational visits, visitors, cultural experiences, performances, clubs and competitions. We ensure equity of access so that every child benefits from these experiences.

Pupils talk enthusiastically about trips, events and opportunities and can explain how these have broadened their horizons.

Strong Community And Service Links

We have strong links with our local community and believe in learning through service. Pupils take part in charity projects, fundraising and community events, often chosen by pupils themselves. They help to improve the local area through planting, tidying community spaces and keeping lanes and footpaths clean.

Pupils learn about social responsibility, compassion and respect for others, including people from different backgrounds, cultures and life experiences. This supports their understanding of protected characteristics and helps them to develop empathy and tolerance.

Online Safety And Digital Citizenship

Pupils are taught how to stay safe online and how to behave responsibly in the digital world. This includes learning about digital footprints, misinformation, respectful online communication and managing screen time.

Through this, pupils learn about individual liberty, responsibility and the importance of treating others with respect both online and offline.

Inclusive Culture Of Belonging

We promote a strong culture of inclusion where everyone feels valued. Diversity is reflected through our curriculum, books, worship and wider school life. Pupils learn to respect differences, challenge discrimination and celebrate what makes each person unique.

Children describe school as a safe, fair and welcoming place where they belong.

Strong Staff Modelling

Staff consistently model the behaviours and attitudes we expect from pupils, including respectful communication, kindness, empathy and calm conflict resolution.

Through this, pupils see British values and our school values of love, belonging and aspiration lived out daily. This consistency helps pupils mirror these behaviours in their own relationships.

Celebrating Personal Development And Aspiration

Personal development is celebrated through collective worship, where achievements and developments both in and out of school are recognised.

To raise aspirations, parents and carers are welcomed into school for careers days and workshops, and pupils benefit from external speakers, including local banks delivering money and financial awareness talks. These experiences help pupils to understand future pathways and develop important life skills.