Personal Development

At Folkestone Academy, we believe personal development is just as important as academic success. Our Personal Development Diary provides pupils with a dedicated space to reflect on their experiences, celebrate their achievements and recognise how they are developing both inside and outside the classroom.

Throughout the academic year, pupils use their diaries to capture key moments from their personal development journey, including assemblies, enrichment opportunities, Turner 25 experiences, careers activities, community events and wider school life.

The diary encourages pupils to reflect on the skills, qualities and values they are developing, from resilience and confidence to kindness, leadership and teamwork. It also helps pupils recognise their individual strengths, set personal goals and take pride in their progress.

By encouraging meaningful reflection, our Personal Development Diary brings our Character Curriculum to life, helping every pupil recognise that personal development is not simply about what they do, but what they learn, who they become and how they contribute to the world around them.

Find Your Talent. Build Your Character. Shape Your Future. 

We believe education is about more than academic achievement. It is about developing confident, resilient and responsible young people who have the character, skills and ambition to thrive both in school and beyond.

Our Character Curriculum sits at the heart of our Personal Development provision, providing pupils with meaningful opportunities to explore who they are, discover their strengths and develop the qualities needed to succeed in life.

Through a carefully planned programme of assemblies, PSHE lessons, enrichment activities, careers education, Turner 25 experiences and wider opportunities, pupils are encouraged to develop positive values, build strong relationships, embrace challenges and make informed choices.

Our curriculum promotes key character qualities including respect, resilience, kindness, responsibility, independence and aspiration, helping pupils understand how these values influence their actions, decisions and contributions to the wider community.

We recognise that character is developed not only through what is taught in the classroom, but also through the experiences pupils have, the challenges they overcome and the opportunities they embrace. Through regular reflection in their Personal Development Diaries, pupils are encouraged to recognise their achievements, celebrate their growth and identify their next steps.

Our ambition is simple: every pupil leaves Folkestone Academy not only with the qualifications they need, but with the confidence, character and skills to shape their own future.