Personal Development at Nottingham Girls’ Academy

At Nottingham Girls’ Academy, we believe education is about more than academic achievement. We want every pupil to feel safe, happy and valued, develop confidence, build positive relationships and be prepared for life beyond school.

Our Personal Development programme helps pupils develop the knowledge, skills and qualities they need to make informed decisions, look after themselves and others, and contribute positively to their communities.

Through lessons, assemblies, enrichment, educational visits and wider opportunities, we encourage pupils to try new things, take on challenges and develop high aspirations for their future.

Our approach is underpinned by our BUILD qualities:

Integrity, Creativity, Positivity, Empathy, Aspiration, Respect, Kindness, Tolerance and Resilience.

Relationships, Health and Wellbeing

We want pupils to understand how to keep themselves safe, healthy and happy, both in school and beyond.

Through our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programme, pupils learn about healthy relationships, physical and mental wellbeing, personal safety and making responsible decisions.

Topics include online safety, friendships and relationships, healthy lifestyles, mental health, drugs and alcohol, first aid and managing emotions.

In Years 7–10, PSHE is taught by specialist staff through structured, one-hour lessons. These lessons take place on a rotating timetable, meaning pupils attend PSHE at different times throughout the school timetable rather than regularly missing the same subject.

In Year 11, PSHE continues to be delivered through tutor time, alongside assemblies and other Personal Development activities.

Our aim is to give pupils the knowledge and confidence to make positive choices, build healthy relationships, seek support when needed and develop skills that will help them throughout their lives.

Careers and Employability

We want every pupil to have high aspirations and feel confident about their future.

Our careers programme helps pupils explore different career paths, understand the world of work and make informed choices about their next steps.

Throughout their time at NGA, pupils benefit from careers education, personal careers guidance, employer encounters, workplace experiences and opportunities to learn about further and higher education.

Pupils are offered work experience opportunities in Years 10 and 12, helping them develop employability skills and gain an understanding of the workplace.

Our careers programme is guided by the Gatsby Benchmarks and has achieved the Gold Standard Careers Mark.

We also make links between subjects and careers through our BEE moments, helping pupils understand how their learning connects to future opportunities.

Enrichment and Wider Opportunities

Belong. Be Confident. Build Aspirations.

Our enrichment programme gives pupils opportunities to discover interests, develop skills, build confidence and enjoy experiences beyond the classroom.

Every Friday, pupils in Years 7–13 take part in Enrichment Friday, choosing from a wide range of activities including sports, performing arts, creative activities, cultural experiences, practical skills and leadership opportunities.

We also offer lunchtime and after-school clubs, educational visits, workshops, performances and activities with external organisations.

These opportunities help pupils develop friendships, work with others, try new things and discover talents and interests.

We want enrichment to be accessible to everyone and regularly gather feedback from pupils, parents and staff to help us improve what we offer.

Explore Our Enrichment Programme

NGA Personal Development Passport

We want every pupil to have opportunities to experience new places, take on challenges and create lasting memories.

Our Personal Development Passport provides planned experiences for pupils as they move through the academy, helping them develop confidence, independence and a wider understanding of the world.

Our planned Passport Experiences include:
Year 7: SnowDome
Year 8: Cadbury World
Year 9: Peak District
Year 10: Sherwood Pines and Go Ape
Year 11: University Visit

Alongside these experiences, pupils have opportunities to take part in reward trips, subject visits and other activities throughout the year.

These experiences are an important part of helping pupils develop skills, build confidence and broaden their horizons.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We are proud of the diverse community at Nottingham Girls’ Academy and want every pupil to feel respected, included and valued.

We celebrate the different cultures, backgrounds and experiences that make our academy community special.

Throughout the year, we recognise events including Black History Month, Eid, Lunar New Year and our annual Nations Day.

Celebrations include assemblies, performances, guest speakers, cultural activities and opportunities for pupils to share their traditions and experiences.

Our Equality Group includes representatives from every year group, giving pupils a voice in promoting equality, challenging discrimination and helping to make NGA a welcoming place for everyone.

We encourage pupils to respect differences, celebrate diversity and treat others with kindness and understanding.

Citizenship and Fundamental British Values

We want pupils to understand their rights and responsibilities and feel confident making a positive contribution to society.

Citizenship education is taught through tutor sessions, assemblies, the wider curriculum and opportunities to take part in school life.

Pupils learn about democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

Our Pupil Parliament gives pupils a voice in school decisions and helps them understand how democracy works in practice.

Every year group is represented in Pupil Parliament, with pupils elected through a democratic process.

Pupils also have opportunities to take on other leadership responsibilities, helping them develop communication, teamwork, confidence and a sense of responsibility.

Pupil Leadership and Pupil Voice

We believe pupils should have a say in the decisions that affect their school experience.

Through Pupil Parliament, the Equality Group, Enrichment Ambassadors and other leadership opportunities, pupils can share ideas, represent their peers and help shape school life.

We also gather feedback through surveys and pupil discussions, using their views to review and improve what we offer.

These opportunities help pupils develop confidence, leadership skills and an understanding of how they can make a positive difference.

Developing Our BUILD Qualities

Our BUILD qualities are at the heart of school life and help pupils develop the character and skills they need to succeed.

Integrity – Doing the right thing and taking responsibility.
Creativity – Thinking differently and exploring new ideas.
Positivity – Having a positive attitude and encouraging others.
Empathy – Understanding how other people feel.
Aspiration – Aiming high and working towards goals.
Respect – Valuing others and treating everyone fairly.
Kindness – Being caring, helpful and supportive.
Tolerance – Accepting and respecting differences.
Resilience – Keeping going when things are difficult.

These qualities are developed through lessons, enrichment, leadership opportunities, relationships and everyday experiences at NGA.

Preparing Pupils for Life Beyond NGA

Our aim is for every pupil to leave Nottingham Girls’ Academy with more than qualifications.

We want them to be confident, independent and respectful young people who are ready to make informed choices, build positive relationships and take advantage of future opportunities.

Through our Personal Development programme, we help pupils develop the knowledge, experiences and qualities they need to succeed in school and beyond.