Personal Development
4 Pillars of Personal Development at Cedars Upper School
This highlights the extensive opportunities that students will have during their time at Cedars Upper School. Students have been encouraged to take as many opportunities as they can to get the most out of school and to extend their learning and experiences beyond the classroom.
Super curricular: Learning Beyond Lessons
Super-curricular is different from extra-curricular. Extra-curricular activities are those outside of their chosen topic, and unrelated to students’ studies, whereas super-curricular activities take the subjects they study further, beyond what they have learnt at school.
Each subject area has developed a super curricular poster to support students in taking their learning beyond their lessons.
In addition to this we also have a range of guest speakers on areas of interest such as Author talks in the Library, Parliament, the Army, links to the NHS and so on. Google classrooms are used to share ways they can extend their knowledge and passion for their subjects.
Personal Development in the Curriculum
This is where we aim to develop our students’ knowledge, understanding and character through programmes such as tutor time and RSHE. for example lessons which develop our value of respectful on LGBTQ+ issues, sexual harassment and so much more.
We also support students in giving them the tools to empower them to manage their own well being.
Click here for more information on our Student Support Centre (SSC)
Interactions with the working world
At Cedars we are fortunate to be able to offer students guidance at all key points of their educational career such as:
1:1 support with your Post 14 (yr9) and 16 (yr11) options
Impartial careers advice in year 11
Personal statement support from tutors and teachers at 6F
Careers fayre
Careers support and skills in the curriculum
As well as guest speakers in assemblies, small groups, trips, webinars and visits.
Extracurricular: Experiences beyond lessons
We have a number of wealth leadership opportunities available, just a few examples are:
- Student council representative
- Student interviewers
- At 6F to be a subject leader, Ear4U2 mentor or senior student.
- Equality Ambassadors
- Wellbeing Ambassadors
- Student voice opportunities Click here for more information
In addition we have a broad range of extracurricular activities at lunch and afterschool as well as opportunities beyond the school day such as Duke of Edinburgh and many school trips. Click here for more information
Student Wellbeing & The Student Support Centre (SSC)
At Cedars Upper School there is always help and support available to you in school. If you need some help and advice then please see your Head of Year, Assistant Head of Year, SSC or a member of staff you feel comfortable with.
Student Support Centre (SSC)
At Cedars we are fortunate to have a large on site Student Support Centre (SSC) with a designated therapy room. This space supports students from all year groups. Within the Student Support Centre we also have two extensively trained mental health support workers.
Our staff are qualified to support students with a range of wellbeing concerns including but not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Disordered eating
- Exam stress
- Raising Resilience
- Self harm
- Educational psychology on coping mechanism and resilience
Students value our SSC. They value it as a safe space to work through their concerns and to learn strategies to support their wellbeing. Click here for more information.
Ear4U2
Students value this space so much that they want to give back. Each year we have sixth form students volunteer their time to be trained to mentor students through the SSC.
Wellbeing Tutor Programme and RSHE lessons
Everyone has mental health. At Cedars we recognise this through our wellbeing tutor programme and RSHE lesson which ensures that all students in all year groups are given information and tools to support positive wellbeing throughout their time with us.
Transition: Raising Resilience
We understand that moving to a new school is daunting for most students but for some it is particularly challenging. We work closely with our middle schools to identify students that would benefit from additional support ahead of starting with us in September and run sessions to support a smooth transition to upper school.