CHARACTER CURRICULUM
Developing Young People for Life
At Rainhill, education is about both what pupils achieve and who they become.
Our Character Curriculum is a deliberately planned part of the Rainhill curriculum, providing a coherent journey from Year 7 to Year 11. Through regular taught content and planned experiences across school life, pupils develop the knowledge, understanding, character and confidence they need to flourish.
Rooted in Learn, Think, Contribute and Care, our ambition is that every pupil leaves Rainhill with strong qualifications and the knowledge, experiences and personal qualities to make informed choices, succeed in their next steps and contribute positively to society.
ACHIEVEMENT & CHARACTER
What pupils achieve matters.
Who they become matters too.
Our Character Curriculum deliberately develops both — preparing young people not only for qualifications, but for relationships, responsibilities, opportunities and life beyond school.
A Planned Curriculum
Our Character Curriculum brings together pupils’ learning and planned experiences across:
01
PSHE & RSHE
PSHE and statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education.
02
Character & Standards
Character development and our Professional Standards.
03
Safeguarding
Knowledge and understanding that helps pupils keep themselves and others safe.
04
Citizenship & Society
Citizenship, SMSC and British values.
05
Health & Wellbeing
Physical health, mental wellbeing and healthy choices.
06
Careers & the Future
Careers education and preparation for future pathways.
07
Experiences
Enrichment, trips and cultural experiences.
08
Leadership & Voice
Pupil leadership, representation and School Parliament.
09
Community
Houses, volunteering and contributing to others.
10
Adulthood
Developing the knowledge and independence needed for adult life.
MORE THAN A SINGLE LESSON
Learning takes place through dedicated lessons and planned experiences, reinforced through tutor time, assemblies, subjects, careers education, enrichment, leadership and wider school life.
THE CHARACTER JOURNEY
Growing in Confidence, Independence & Responsibility
The Character Curriculum develops as pupils progress through Rainhill, reflecting their increasing maturity, independence and preparation for the future.
YEARS 7 & 8
Develop
Belonging. Confidence. Participation.
Pupils establish positive habits and relationships, experience new opportunities and learn what our Professional Standards mean in practice.
They begin to understand themselves, their relationships with others and their place within the Rainhill community and wider society.
YEAR 9
Challenge
Independence. Resilience. Perspective.
Pupils become increasingly independent, resilient and outward-looking.
Their curriculum and wider experiences challenge them to consider different perspectives, take greater responsibility and make informed choices.
Leadership, careers, enrichment and opportunities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award broaden experience and aspiration.
YEARS 10 & 11
Competitive Edge
Learning. Choices. Future.
Pupils increasingly take responsibility for their learning, choices and future.
Alongside preparation for qualifications, the Character Curriculum develops the organisation, independence, resilience, aspiration and confidence needed for post-16 study and adult life.
Character in Everyday Life
Our values are translated into everyday expectations through our five Professional Standards:
Conduct
Organisation
Commitment
Pride
Morals
Character is therefore not something pupils encounter only in a Character lesson. It is developed through the choices they make, how they learn, respond to challenge, treat others and contribute to their community.
Positive choices, effort and contribution are deliberately recognised and reinforced through our approach to Rewards & Recognition.
KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE
PSHE, Relationships, Health & Preparing for Life
Our planned PSHE curriculum includes pupils’ statutory RSHE entitlement and develops appropriately as pupils mature.
LEARNING INCLUDES
- healthy and respectful relationships, consent and sexual health;
- physical health and mental wellbeing;
- online relationships, social media and digital safety;
- exploitation, harmful behaviours and managing risk;
- drugs, alcohol, tobacco and other health risks;
- equality, diversity and respect;
- financial and economic understanding;
- changing adolescent bodies; and
- when, where and how to seek help.
Content develops as pupils mature and is reinforced through other appropriate areas of pupils’ planned experience.
Experiences That Develop Character
What pupils learn is strengthened by opportunities to experience, participate, contribute and take responsibility.
FUTURE
Careers
Careers education develops pupils’ understanding of future opportunities and supports informed and ambitious choices.
DISCOVER
Enrichment & Experience
Enrichment, trips, cultural experiences and the Scholars Programme broaden horizons and allow pupils to discover interests and talents.
CONTRIBUTE
Leadership & Community
Leadership, School Parliament, Houses, volunteering and community involvement give pupils opportunities to develop their voice, represent others and make a positive contribution.
These are planned parts of pupils’ wider Rainhill experience, with dedicated pages providing more information for families.
CITIZENSHIP & SOCIETY
Understanding the Wider World
We want pupils to understand the society in which they live and develop the confidence to participate positively within it.
Through Character lessons, subjects, Religious Education, assemblies and wider experiences, pupils encounter different beliefs, cultures, ideas and perspectives.
They learn about democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, respect and tolerance, equality, protected characteristics, rights and responsibilities.
These are important foundations for participating in a diverse democratic society.
An Entitlement for Every Pupil
The Character Curriculum and wider opportunities are for every pupil.
OPPORTUNITY MUST BE ACCESSIBLE
It is not enough simply for opportunities to exist.
Where SEND, disadvantage, attendance, wellbeing or individual circumstances create barriers to participation, we seek to understand and remove those barriers while maintaining high expectations.
Our ambition is that pupils are able to participate, belong and benefit from the experiences available to them.
READY FOR WHAT COMES NEXT
Developing Young People for Life
By the time pupils leave Rainhill, we want them to be knowledgeable, confident, respectful and responsible young people: able to make informed decisions, form positive relationships, contribute to their communities and take increasing responsibility for their future.
Learn.
Think.
Contribute.
Care.
These values describe both the young people we are seeking to develop and the experiences we deliberately provide to help them get there.
That is an important part of being In Pursuit of Excellence.
