Personal Development 

At Les Varendes High School, we strive to prepare students for their future as responsible citizens, ready to make a positive contribution to our society with an appreciation of diversity and respect. We provide a number of rich and varied opportunities and experiences through both our academic and pastoral curriculums. 

Our personal development curriculum is about the whole school experience, from assemblies to educational visits, to guest speakers and extra curricular opportunities. Our aim is to cultivate a generation of students who embody our school values - Ambition through Respect, Resilience and Responsibility. 

Our personal development curriculum is based around the following areas: 

• Character Education

• Wellbeing

• Relationships and Health Education

• Careers and Employability

• Equality and Diversity

As part of personal development, we deliver the PSHCE curriculum in that we encourage students to embrace a positive mindset and strive to be the best versions of themselves as they mature into adulthood. This curriculum engages students in exploring complex and sensitive issues, allowing them to reflect on their own ideas and beliefs, while offering a safe space to express themselves.

The ultimate aim of our PSHCE curriculum is to enable students to shine in all that they do, developing into well-rounded individuals capable of tackling life’s challenges. Through social action and a commitment to excellence, our students are equipped to support others and make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

The delivery of our PSHCE is further enhanced through our access to various support agencies, such as SHARE, Action for Children, Police including Digital Safety, Safer, School Dentist Team, St Johns, Dementia Friendly Guernsey, ODPA and the Youth Commission, who deliver age-appropriate lessons and provide regular drop in sessions/information stands for our young people to access.

The PSHCE learning journey through key stages 3 and 4 can be found here. 

Through PSHCE lessons and tailored careers advice, the school integrates guidance into the curriculum to help our pupils make informed choices about their education, wellbeing and future pathways.

Within the PSHCE, Careers and Personal Development curriculum, we aim to provide students with opportunities that allow them to understand the world of work by developing the skills and knowledge to succeed and make choices about their potential future pathways.

Careers Guernsey is a fantastic local resource for information and advice for pupils. Find out more at careers.gg. 

Our Pastoral curriculum varies across each year group and is aligned with the Personal Development curriculum and PSHCE. We have a key theme across each week, starting with our school values and then moving on to other personal traits that help students to develop their character. 

We offer a broad and varied range of extra curricular activities. These activities allow them to explore their interests, develop new skills, and build character in a fun and supportive environment. The Extra Curricular schedule is shared every morning on the Student Information Centre and the Pastoral Bulletin. It is also available on our school facebook page.