At St Thomas More, Personal Development is how we help every child flourish — in faith, character, relationships and wellbeing — so they can become the person God is calling them to be. Through our Becoming MORE ethos, we support pupils to grow in kindness, confidence, resilience and responsibility, ready to play their part in our school, our community and the wider world.
This is our planned curriculum where children are directly taught the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to flourish.
This includes:
RSHE / Ten:Ten (Relationships, Health and Wellbeing education taught in a Catholic context)
Religious Education (RED) including Scripture, virtues and Catholic Social Teaching
Reading and Writing using high-quality texts that build empathy, character and understanding
Computing and Online Safety (including digital citizenship)
Links through the wider curriculum (e.g. History, Geography, Science, PE, Art and DT)
This is the lived experience of our school culture — how pupils are shaped through daily life, relationships and belonging.
Prayer, liturgy and reflection
Class and whole-school worship
Chaplaincy and pupil leadership
Charity, service and mission in action
We use our MAGIC wellbeing approach to help pupils build healthy habits and emotional resilience.
Pupils are encouraged to be: Mindful, Active, Generous, Interested and Connected.
MAGIC is reinforced through daily routines, classroom practice and whole-school culture.
A culture of dignity, forgiveness, respect and responsibility
Pupil leadership and serving others
Enrichment (visitors, trips, themed weeks and community action)
Supportive routines and relationships that help children feel safe, known and valued
📘 Explicit Teaching gives children the language, knowledge and skills to make good choices.
❤️ Implicit Formation helps children live those choices through example, belonging and community.
Together, these strands support children in Becoming MORE — not only achieving academically, but growing spiritually, morally, socially and emotionally.
At St Thomas More, we believe every child is created with unique gifts and a God-given purpose. Through our Careers and Vocations programme, we help pupils to discover their strengths, raise aspirations and begin to understand the many ways they can serve others and contribute to the world.
Children are encouraged to think about the future in a hopeful and positive way — not just “what job do I want?”, but “who am I becoming?” and “how can I use my gifts to make a difference?”
Personal Development is how we help pupils develop character, confidence, wellbeing, relationships, values and responsibility, alongside their academic learning.
Through two strands:
📘 Explicit Teaching – planned lessons and curriculum content
❤️ Implicit Formation – the culture and lived experience of school life
Both are equally important.
RSHE stands for Relationships, Sex and Health Education. At St Thomas More, we teach RSHE through the Ten:Ten Catholic programme, which is age-appropriate and rooted in dignity, respect, safe choices and healthy relationships.
Yes — in a primary-appropriate way. Children are taught that everyone deserves dignity and respect, and that we must not tolerate bullying, discrimination or unkindness. This is taught through RSHE, RE, stories and texts, the wider curriculum, and our school culture.
No. St Thomas More does not teach gender identity or gender reassignment. Our teaching focuses on kindness, dignity and respect for every person, and ensuring pupils know how to behave safely and respectfully towards others.
We use a carefully planned curriculum matched to pupils’ maturity and needs. Teaching is delivered by trained staff, rooted in Catholic values, and focuses on helping children grow in respect, safety, and positive relationships.
Yes. If you would like to view our Personal Development overview or RSHE curriculum are available to view.
In primary school, careers education is about helping children build aspirations, understand that there are many possibilities for their future, and develop the skills and attitudes they will need to succeed (such as teamwork, resilience and confidence).
A vocation is a calling — the idea that God has created each person with gifts and a purpose. We help children reflect on how they can use their strengths to live well, serve others and make a positive difference.
No. Children are not expected to decide on a job. Instead, we focus on helping them understand that their future is full of possibilities and that their choices can develop over time.
Careers and Vocations is taught through:
📘 Explicit Teaching – planned lessons, curriculum links and discussions about roles and pathways
❤️ Implicit Formation – enrichment, role models, leadership opportunities and a culture of aspiration
Pupils may experience:
visitors from different professions
themed weeks and enrichment events
links to local community roles
leadership responsibilities in school
learning that connects skills to real-life careers
We help children understand that work and service can be ways of living out our faith. Pupils learn that everyone has value, everyone has gifts, and every role in society can contribute to the common good.
Simple conversations make a big difference. You can help by:
talking about your own job and the skills you use
encouraging your child to notice what they enjoy and are good at
praising effort, resilience and kindness
helping them see that their gifts can be used to help others
If you have any questions about Personal Development, RSHE or Careers and Vocations at St Thomas More, please contact the school office who will be happy to direct your query to Mrs Lambert (Pupil Premium & Personal Development Lead).
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