top of page

Personal Development

At NILA, we understand that there is more to a school than the National Curriculum alone. We are constantly striving to ensure that every student develops a secure understanding and detailed knowledge across PSHE, relationships, and citizenship by tailoring our offer under our NILA Personal Development strands.

 

We put this into practice through enriching experiences both in and out of the classroom, rooted in our NILA Ethics of kindness, ambition, resilience and respect, in a tailored personal development programme designed to match our students' highest ambitions.

 

We are deeply committed to fostering confidence, resilience, and independence in our young people, teaching them to reflect deeply and cooperate with integrity so they are thoroughly prepared for life beyond our walls.

 

Central to our mission is a systematic, proactive approach to pastoral care - our dedicated leaders and staff work to anticipate needs and provide highly effective, targeted support in any area that a student may need.

 

We ensure that this extensive programming is fully inclusive—guaranteeing that disadvantaged pupils, those with SEND, and students facing learning or well-being barriers participate and thrive equally. The proof of our dedication is clear in our students' outstanding outcomes, their vibrant school experiences, and the clear paths they forge toward their futures.

PSHE & RSHE

At New Invention Learning Academy, we aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum tailored to individual pupil needs, which will enable all children to achieve their maximum potential. We also strive to ensure that all pupils develop an enthusiasm for and a love of learning.  Scroll down to see a snapshot of the work we do.

Ethos and Values

Relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) will reflect the values of the PSHE and Citizenship programme. RSHE will be taught in the context of relationships. In addition, RSHE will promote self-esteem and emotional health and well-being and help them form and maintain worthwhile and satisfying relationships, based on respect for themselves and for others, at home, school, work and in the community.

At New Invention Learning Academy, we aim to provide a holistic education for all children. Every pupil will receive their full entitlement to RSHE regardless of their educational ability, gender, race, disability, ethnicity or faith. We aim to support children in their emotional, cultural and social, as well as academic development.

Aims

Contributing to the foundation of PSHE, the school’s RSHE programme aims to ‘explore attitudes and values with children about relationships, emotions, self-esteem and personal safety.’ Children will develop skills in order to make positive decisions about their health related behaviour. During RSHE, children will ‘develop personal and social skills and a positive attitude to growing up’.

​​

Objectives

The school aims to provide a graduated, age-appropriate RSHE programme emphasising the social and emotional aspects of relationships.

 

RSE will teach 7-11 year olds to understand:

  • the range of their own and others’ feelings and emotions;

  • the importance of personal safety and what to do or to whom to go when feeling unsafe;

  • to develop and use communication skills and assertiveness skills to cope with the influences of their peers and the social media;

  • to be prepared for puberty and adulthood, including physical and emotional changes that take place at puberty, including conception, pregnancy and birth.

 Implementation

Relationship, sex and health education is delivered through Science, RE, PSHE, citizenship, Computing, literacy activities and ‘circle time’.  A planned and co-ordinated approach to each subject can provide an appropriate framework for RSHE to take place providing pupils with a consistent message.

RSHE is taught by classroom teachers, teaching assistants and if appropriate, outside visitors such as the school nurse. A range of teaching methods include use of video, discussion, looking at case studies, drama and role-play.

Sex and relationship education is usually delivered in mixed gender groups however, there may be occasions where single gender groups are more appropriate and relevant

The minimum statutory requirement for RSHE is that schools must deliver the National Curriculum for Science to all children within school:

 

Key Stage 2

  • That the life processes common to humans and other animals include nutrition, growth and reproduction.

  • The main stages of the human life cycle, including puberty.

Dealing with Difficult Topics / Questions

All teachers are aware of the ground rules which provide an agreed structure to answering sensitive or difficult questions. Teachers will endeavour to answer questions as honestly as possible but if faced with a question, they do not feel comfortable answering within the classroom, provision would be made to meet the individual child’s needs.

Parental Consultation

The RSHE policy is shared here on our website and full details are available on request. The school informs parents when aspects of the sex and relationship programme are taught and will be given an outline of the lessons in advance, so parents/carers are able to support their child's learning and align any conversations that they may have already been having at home with what their child has learnt at school. 

Safeguarding / Confidentiality

Teachers need to be aware that effective RSHE, which brings an understanding of what is and is not acceptable in a relationship, may lead to disclosure of a child protection issue.

  • The staff member will inform the Head Teacher/Designated Child Protection person in line with the agreed procedures for child protection.

  • A member of staff cannot promise confidentiality if safeguarding concerns exist.

 Monitoring, Assessing and Reviewing

To ensure that the policy is adhered to and is effective, it will be monitored, reviewed and evaluated regularly. The school will assess the effectiveness of the aims, content and methods in promoting pupils’ learning by lesson observation, sampling teachers' planning, questionnaires to teachers and children and feedback from parents. The effectiveness of the SRE programme will be evaluated by assessing children’s learning and implementing changes if required.

SMSC & British Values

SMSC and British values are promoted across our curriculum and daily school life.

 

 

 

School Council

Our school council are a big part of the excellent work being done within school to promote the pupils’ spiritual, cultural, moral and social development, as well as the core aspects of British values (democracy, the rule of the law, individual liberty, mutual respect, tolerance of different faiths and beliefs).

At the start of the school year, each class discussed the term ‘democracy’ before anyone who wanted to be a class representative wrote a small speech about why their class should vote for them. After these speeches were given, each class voted for their councillor by secret ballot. The chosen school councillors will attend a meeting at least once a month since then to discuss any issues and work to improve the school for everyone!

Contact Us

New Invention Learning Academy

Cannock Road

Willenhall

Walsall

WV12 5SA

The School Office is manned from 8.00am until 4:30pm. During before and after office hours, there is an answer phone service and messages can be left and then passed on to relevant staff. You can speak to any member of the Office Team if you have a query. Our Office Manager is Mrs J Hedges. 

 

New Invention Learning Academy's email is: epost@thenila.uk

01922 710376

© 2025 New Invention Learning Academy. Powered and secured by Wix

bottom of page