At The Gatwick School, our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education plays a central role in supporting the personal development, wellbeing, and character of every student. We follow the Jigsaw PSHE curriculum, a comprehensive and fully resourced programme that brings together emotional literacy, mental health, social skills, and spiritual development in a structured and engaging way.
The Jigsaw approach supports our school values of Choices, Chances, Culture, helping students to understand themselves, make positive life choices, and contribute to a respectful and inclusive school environment. Topics covered include relationships and sex education (RSE), health and wellbeing, digital literacy, financial awareness, and preparation for life beyond school.
We are proud to offer a wide range of enrichment activities that support our students' personal growth beyond the classroom. Highlights so far this year include:
Anti-Bullying Week campaigns
Black History Month celebration
Safer Internet Day activities across all year groups
LGBTQ+ History Month assemblies and tutor-time discussions
GamCare awareness Assemblies
Youth Police visits
Drama workshops – key focus on emotional wellbeing
Tutor Time
Every school day begins with a 25-minute Tutor Time programme, designed to set a positive tone for learning and promote the holistic development of our students. This daily session is a key part of our wider commitment to personal development and is rooted in our school values.
Students meet with their form tutor and peers each morning to engage in a structured and purposeful activity. The programme follows a weekly rotation of three key themes:
Literacy Meeting
Literacy is a gateway to lifelong learning and academic success. During Literacy meetings, students engage with high-quality texts, topical articles, and vocabulary-building activities aimed at improving reading fluency, comprehension, and oracy. These sessions not only strengthen core literacy skills but also promote critical thinking and articulate self-expression across all subjects.
Enrichment Meeting
These sessions expose students to a broad range of ideas, careers, and inspirational stories beyond the formal curriculum. Enrichment meetings are designed to broaden horizons through national awareness days and values-based themes. These meetings build ambition and highlight the chances available to students both inside and outside school.
Cultural Capital Meetings
To help students become informed and thoughtful citizens, Cultural Capital meetings introduce them to significant cultural, historical, and global topics. Themes include politics, ethical issues, and current affairs – enhancing students' understanding of the world and their place in it. These sessions also support students in developing their employability skills.
Our Tutor Time programme is more than a routine; it's a daily opportunity to grow, connect, and reflect – ensuring every student begins the day informed, inspired, and ready to make positive choices.
Through all these Personal Development opportunities, we aim to nurture confident, kind, and reflective individuals who are equipped to thrive both in school and in life.