Personal Development and Year Group Bonding for Secondary Schools

Growing up with confidence

Moving to secondary school and on to further education are often the most challenging experiences in a student’s life.

A PGL Personal Development course helps students develop ways to cope with new situations and new people.

By stepping outside their comfort zone, under the watchful eyes of our trained instructors, your students discover new strengths and skills. They also develop confidence and trust within the group and with you, their teacher, which has a positive effect back in the classroom.

So how does it work?

Using adventure activities to stimulate learning and growth, our Personal Development courses are supported by trained PGL instructors who tailor the adventure sessions to meet your objectives.

Thought-provoking workbooks and discussion opportunities, plus a "plan-do-review" approach help students assess and understand what they've learnt - the connections, the insights, and the impact it has on their own feelings and behaviour.

Our Personal Development courses are ideal for single classes or for whole year groups, getting a new school year or term off to a motivating and inspiring start.

Year group bonding

Year 7

Personal Development courses are ideal for Year 7 groups, providing opportunities for students to develop the resilience, tolerance and self-reliance they need during the transition period.

They're also a tried-and-tested way for students to get to know each other and their teachers, through working as a team and living together away from home for a few days.

Most of our centres have the capacity to take whole year groups comfortably.

Learning outcomes

Personal Development courses are open to all secondary year groups and are tailored to meet your specific requirements.

Key themes

Working together
Problem solving
Leadership
Self-reliance
Meeting challenges
Setting and achieving objectives
Respect
Motivation
Friendship

Learning Outcomes

Year group bonding
Increased trust and respect
Improved motivation
Better relationships and cooperation
Increased confidence and resilience
Self-belief
Emotional well-being
Taking responsibility
Increased appetite for learning

A typical itinerary for this course

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Sample programme for a 5 day Personal Development course for Secondary Schools
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
07.30-09.00		Breakfast Plan the day ahead	Breakfast Plan the day ahead	Breakfast Plan the day ahead	Breakfast Plan the day ahead
09.00-10.30		Archery	Problem Solving - High Ropes Course	Cooperation & Trust - Jacob's Ladder	Trust - Abseiling
10.30-12.00		Resourcefulness - Orienteering	Challenge Course	Trapeze	Climbing
12.00-14.00		Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
14.00-17.00	15.30 onwards - arrive on centre, unpack and orientation	Kayaking	Fencing Zip Wire	Working Together - Raft Building	Depart centre after lunch
17.00-19.00	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner	Dinner
19.00-21.00	Quiz Show	Review Session Capture the Flag	Review Session Passport to the World	Review Session Disco

Activities

Our development course uses adventure activities to support learning and growth. Our well-trained instructors devise appropriate introductions to the adventure sessions. We supply a thought-provoking workbook and plenty of opportunities for discussion..

Our ‘Plan, Do, Review’ approach helps your students understand what they’ve learnt and the impact this has on their own behaviour. We’ll tease out what they were feeling with review sessions after each activity – the implications, the connections and the insights.

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Location

Barton Hall, South Devon Bawdsey Manor, Suffolk Beam House, North Devon Boreatton Park, Shropshire Caythorpe Court, Lincolnshire Dalguise, Perthshire Ford Castle, Northumberland (NEW!) Liddington, Wiltshire Little Canada, Isle of Wight Marchants Hill, Surrey Newby Wiske Hall, North Yorkshire (NEW!) Osmington Bay, Dorset Tregoyd House, Brecon Beacons Windmill Hill, East Sussex Winmarleigh Hall, Lancashire