Personal Development

The school is committed to our students personal development as well as their academic attainment.  There are eight key character traits that we look to encourage.

Through their participation within the wider school community, including the wide range of clubs and groups students have the opportunity to be part of and in some cases lead, students can develop the valued character traits of commitment, compassion, courage, creativity, resilience, responsibility, gratitude and intellectual curiosity. 

Commitment

By this we mean a “stick at it” attitude. If they have commitments to drama, sport or other activities our students will show dedication. CSGS students turn up even when it is cold and wet. They will also be committed to their studies and persevere to make the most of their talents. Commitment is related to the performance virtue of resilience.

Resilience

By this we mean the ability to learn from a setback and move forward. CSGS students will be encouraged not to wallow. With effective feedback they will learn from their mistakes and move on. Resilience can be nurtured in our CSGS students by creating resilience–enhancing classrooms – where expectations are high and every pupil feels valued. It should be noted that resilience is a performance virtue and cannot be nurtured in a moral vacuum. We want our students to be resilient, fair, to learn from mistakes and make the most of every experience.

Fairness / Responsibility

By this we mean a sense of justice. Our students should respect the rights of others. They should learn not to harbour prejudices. On the playing field they should behave sportingly and in the classroom they should act well towards their teachers and their peers. CSGS students should be honest, kind and respectful to others.

Courage

By this we mean that students will have the confidence to face challenges with an attitude to overcome them. Our students should have the strength of character to face up to things, work them through and learn from the experience. Our students will display a determination to strive for success, a resilience in the face of setbacks, the courage to continue, and the strength to take risks as they seek to achieve their full potential. Students will stand out in dance, drama and in all sports as those willing to try their very best. Chis and Sid students will have the courage to step out of their comfort zones, be prepared to take risks and embrace every opportunity.

Intellectual Curiosity

By this we mean the students’ desire to invest time and energy into learning more about a person, place, thing or concept. Chis and Sid students will always have the confidence to ask questions both at school and in their lives beyond. In this way our students will be intellectually satisfied, interested and engaged in learning at CSGS. Chis and Sid students will develop their intellectual curiosity by reading suggested texts, presenting confidently to others in a class, visiting places of interest related to their field of interest etc.

Creativity

By this we mean the students’ desire to become global citizens who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done but who are creative thinkers, inventive and discoverers. In this way we use creativity across the curriculum to improve the effectiveness of learning and teaching processes. Creativity is also celebrated through assemblies and our newsletter. CSGS students are encouraged to use their creativity in school plays, concerts, exhibitions and participation in competitions across all subject areas.

Compassion

By this we mean the ability to think of others and not of ourselves. Our students will learn to empathise with people in very different circumstances than they are used to. In school our students will learn to support each other in a variety of ways. CSGS students will have many opportunities to demonstrate compassion including working on the Charity Committee, peer mentoring, working with students from Marlborough School, joining in the Shoebox appeal etc.

Gratitude

By this we mean the development of the attributes necessary to live in a civil society. Our students will be appreciative of the opportunities they have. CSGS students will treat everyone with respect and value their contributions. They will demonstrate good manners. By nurturing gratitude our students will have a positive outlook in life.

“I want the character of our students to be distinctive as their purple blazers.”
MR WALKER (HEADTEACHER)

As a school we aspire to educate, in partnership with parents, inquiring, well informed and compassionate students who will go on to make a better world by occupying positions of responsibility and influence.

As well as our extensive academic curriculum, we also provide a balanced and broad based learning programme which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of students, and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. This is called ‘Skills for Life’

We deliver this as part of the school’s overall Respect Programme, through our ‘Skills 4 Life’ lessons and workshops and our Respect form time programme, which from Y7 to Y13 covers four main sections; Relationship and Sex Education, Financial Management, Citizenship and RESPECT. Learning Journeys for all these are below.

Our Relationship and Sex Education programme is state of the art, having gained us an ‘Early Adopter’ status, such that we inform latest best practise advised from the Department of Education for all schools in the UK in their Statutory Guidance.

RSE and Health Education Statutory Guidance

Personal development at Chis and Sid

Here at Chis and Sid, we are committed to supporting our students' personal development and wellbeing through a comprehensive and inclusive RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) and PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) curriculum.

Our programme is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to lead safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives—both now and in the future. We aim to foster confident, respectful, and responsible individuals who are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of modern life. 

Within the personal development programme a key aspect for all students is the Form time RESPECT programme which aims to equip students with knowledge and skills to make responsible and well informed decisions enabling them to act with kindness, confidence and independence.  Supporting them to capture skills and values to enable positive contributions to society as knowledgeable, considerate and responsible citizens.

At KS3 pupils are timetabled a fortnightly lesson for the Skills for Life programme that delivers taught content across the spectrum of topics included in the statutory guidance for Relationships and Sex education, Personal, Social, and Health Education, Careers Education, British Values education and Social, moral, spiritual and cultural education.  Within KS4 and 5 the programme is delivered through enrichment workshops, assemblies and form time. 

What We Cover

• Relationships and Sex Education (RSE): We provide age-appropriate, factual, and inclusive education about relationships, consent, sexual health, and emotional wellbeing. Our approach promotes respect, equality, and understanding of diverse identities and experiences.
• Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE): This includes topics such as mental health, physical wellbeing, financial literacy, online safety, careers education, and citizenship. We encourage students to reflect on their values, make informed choices, and develop resilience.
• Character education: This allows pupils to reflect on their core values, social and emotional skills and understand citizenship and community engagement
• British values: The 5 fundamentals of British values are Democracy, The rule of Law, Individual liberty, Mutual respect and Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. 
• Social, moral, Spiritual and cultural education: This focuses on exploring beliefs and creating a sense of identity, developing ethical reasoning and respect for the law and justice, developing social skills such as teamwork and respecting diversity and promoting inclusion.

Our Approach

• Delivered through dedicated lessons, form time, assemblies, and enrichment activities
• Aligned with national guidance and statutory requirements
• Inclusive of all backgrounds, beliefs, and identities
• Supported by trained staff and external specialists where appropriate

Working Together

We believe that effective RSE and PSHE education is a partnership between school, home, and the wider community. We welcome feedback and engagement from parents and carers to ensure our curriculum reflects the needs of our students.