At Trinity School, Croydon, education is about more than just exam results. We believe in shaping confident, compassionate and resilient individuals who are ready to take on the world. While academic excellence is important, so too is the personal growth and wellbeing of every student.
That is why our Personal Development (PD) programme is woven into every aspect of school life. Students do not just leave Trinity with excellent qualifications; they graduate with self-awareness, emotional intelligence and the confidence to thrive well beyond the classroom.
Our recent ISI report recognised the strength of our approach, praising how we revisit key topics “in increasingly sophisticated ways as the pupils mature… and as a result, the programme equips pupils with a sophisticated understanding and respect for difference and diversity.”
At the heart of our PD programme is a culture of care – care for oneself, for others and for the wider community. Our priority is ensuring students feel safe, supported and well-equipped to make good decisions in all areas of their lives.
From their first day at Trinity School, Croydon through to their final year, students explore age-appropriate topics through dedicated lessons, tutor-led discussions and thought-provoking assemblies. We also invite trusted external speakers to deliver specialist workshops, offering expert insight into key issues.
The PD curriculum includes PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education), RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) and online safety, ensuring students gain a rounded understanding of key personal and social issues.
Lessons are designed to be fact-based, engaging and reflective. Students are encouraged to ask questions and think critically about who they are and who they aspire to be. They learn how to manage their wellbeing, build resilience, maintain healthy relationships and engage positively with the world.
Parents can access the full PD curriculum via MySchoolPortal to see the topics covered across different year groups.
In the Sixth Form, PD sessions form an integral part of the Trinity Sixth Form Diploma, preparing students for life beyond school.
Topics include:
Students also take on mentoring, volunteering and leadership roles, building the confidence and character to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Education must respond to the world young people are growing up in. Our PD programme is dynamic and evolves to address current issues facing students at a local, national and global level.
Students have access to strong pastoral care, including tutors, Heads of Year and external networks. We provide clear signposting to resources and reporting systems via our LUDUS online portal, ensuring help is always available when needed.
We also work in partnership with parents, hosting termly online seminars on topics such as online safety, mental health and navigating teenage life. These sessions are timed before school holidays, when students may face less structure, and help families feel equipped to support their children. Teachers attend as part of their professional development, ensuring our whole community stays up-to-date.
Trinity School, Croydon is a proud member of the Trinity Schools PD Working Group, collaborating with 30 other local schools to share best practice and enhance our approach. This ensures our students benefit from a PD programme that is comprehensive, forward-thinking and responsive to the evolving challenges young people face.
At Trinity, education goes beyond academic achievement. Our aim is to develop confident, resilient and socially responsible individuals. With the support of our dedicated pastoral team – including nurses, counsellors and a clinical psychologist – students receive holistic wellbeing care.
Through tutor time, assemblies and the Personal Development curriculum, students develop qualities such as kindness, empathy and personal responsibility. They leave Trinity School, Croydon not just prepared for exams, but truly prepared for life.
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This article originally appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of In Trinity magazine. To read the full issue, click here.
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