Personal Development Learning - Tutor Time
On a Monday to Thursday pupils have a 30 minute PDL session with their tutor. During PDL, pupils work in small sized tutor groups with other pupils from their Year group.
Each term during PDL pupils will explore activities around a given theme based on our Character Virtues; 2 per term, different in each year group. In Years 10 and 11 the Charcater Virtues become Employability Skills so that pupils can start linking and developing these skills for use in college applications, CVs and personal statements.
The activities undertaken in PDL projects are themed around Literacy, Creativity, SMSC, The World Around Us and Future You (careers) Tutors will also have the chance to celebrate any tutee successes or special occasions at any point throughout the year.
All year groups take part in a fortnightly House competition within PDL where they will work with the others in their tutor group in the same house to compete against each other.
In years 10 and 11 tutors will also start to focus on sessions based on Work Experience placements (year 10) and College applications, revision skills and literacy across the curriculum to support examinations (year 11).
Raising Standards Leaders deliver fortnightly assemblies to ensure progress, behaviour and standards are maintained within each year group, as well as exploring awareness days and key events throughout the year.
The Character Virtues that we are building to develop and enhance are based on the school motto of Enjoy Enrich Excel;

Tutors know every pupil well, and the tutor group system allows them to mentor and monitor the development of potential in each pupil and helps to promotes equal opportunities for all pupils. It also allows for greater parent partnership, enhanced pupil voice and leadership, and encourages good citizenship.
PDL aims to to focus on the following:
- Developing responsible, active citizens who are able to play their part and become involved in public life as adults
- To broaden pupils’ horizons through a range of spiritual, moral, social and cultural opportunities
- To promote and debate current affairs and world events
- To promote British Values
Tutor time is also used effectively by tutors to support the pastoral care of pupils. Tutor mentoring and tracking along with attendance/behaviour and uniform checks are activities that are embedded each day in our tutor time activities.
The PDL structure for the Autumn Term for each year group is below;


To view a more detailed plan of activities covered within each year gorup's PDL project please refer to the documents attached
