Why the school chose the award

Newman Catholic College is committed to ensuring that every student develops not only academically, but also personally, socially, and spiritually. The school undertook the Excellence in Pupil Development Award to establish a strategic, whole-school approach to personal development and to embed this in every aspect of school life.

The journey

The award process prompted the school to:

• Establish a personal development faculty within the senior leadership team to lead strategy and delivery.
• Create a five-year, sequenced personal development curriculum based on six core pillars of knowledge, delivered by experienced SLT staff.
• Review and strengthen key policies (e.g. safeguarding and behaviour) to highlight protected characteristics and ensure consistency in implementation.
• Introduce innovative tools such as the Peerscroller app to engage students and parents, track learning, and identify gaps in provision.
• Expand enrichment opportunities including retreats, international trips, cultural events, and national initiatives such as the Police in Schools trial.

Parents, staff, and students were fully involved throughout the process. A new Parent/Carer Forum was established to provide feedback and influence lesson content, while student voice was captured through surveys, assemblies, and forums.

Key achievements

1. Strong leadership and systems

• A dedicated SLT faculty ensures personal development remains a high priority.
• Regular staff briefings, deep dives, and external reviews strengthen monitoring and evaluation.
• Trust-wide reviews have confirmed the College has a well-planned, sequenced curriculum for personal development.

2. Curriculum and enrichment

• A five-year spiral curriculum integrates PSHE, RSHE, SMSC, British values, and Gospel values.
• A wide range of enrichment activities, from retreats to cultural trips to provide opportunities for students to broaden horizons and build confidence.
• Careers education meets Gatsby Benchmarks, preparing students for informed choices about their futures.

3. Student and parent voice

• Students reported enjoying interactive lessons and feeling safe and respected.
• Parents valued the focus on practical issues such as safe relationships and managing money, and noted improved behaviour and confidence in their children.
• The Parent/Carer Forum ensures lessons are relevant and responsive to community needs.

4. Professional development

• Staff receive targeted CPD on embedding personal development across the curriculum.
• Programmes such as Steplab and Embedding Formative Assessment encourage collaboration, peer coaching, and a shared language of practice.

Impact

• Personal development is now a whole-school priority, impacting behaviour, relationships, and student wellbeing.
• The award framework provided a structure to celebrate good practice and strengthen monitoring.
• Students are more confident, engaged, and able to articulate how personal development shapes their growth.
• Staff report improved understanding of their role in supporting pupil development both in and beyond their subject teaching.
• Parents and carers feel more engaged and listened to, with clear evidence that their feedback influences practice.

In their words

“The EPDA process has been a valuable opportunity for reflection and professional dialogue. It has supported staff in identifying strengths and areas for development, which in turn has strengthened teaching, learning, and the wider life of the college. This shared approach ensures that we continue to grow together in our mission and provide the very best for our students.”
Kerry Phillips, Headteacher, Newman Catholic College

Next steps

The College is committed to:

• Providing further training to ensure all staff feel confident leading conversations on personal development.
• Helping students articulate the impact of extracurricular and curriculum opportunities on their personal growth.
• Strengthening assessment and feedback for personal development knowledge.
• Sharing expertise across the wider Emmaus Trust.

Conclusion

Through the Excellence in Pupil Development Award, Newman Catholic College has embedded a culture where personal development is valued as highly as academic achievement. The award not only recognises their success but also sets a clear pathway for future growth, ensuring that every student has the skills, values, and confidence to thrive.

Interested in achieving the same impact?

The Excellence in Pupil Development Award provides schools with a structured framework to embed personal development at the heart of school life. It enables staff to strengthen practice, engage families, and ensure every student is fully prepared for life beyond the classroom.

👉 Find out more about the award and how your school can begin its journey today.