Personal Development at Harris Garrard Sixth Form
Building skills, confidence, and opportunities beyond the classroom.
At Harris Garrard Academy Sixth Form, personal development is not an add-on – it is a promise.
A promise that every student, regardless of background or starting point, will leave us confident, capable, and ready to thrive in the world beyond school.
Our Personal Development curriculum is built around five powerful strands:
- Health
- Character & Culture
- Citizenship
- Aspiration
- and Scholarship.
Together, these form the HGA Personal Development Promise, ensuring that all students gain the experiences, enrichment, and cultural capital that open doors to university, apprenticeships, and ambitious careers.
Rooted in our belief in social mobility, our approach is designed to broaden horizons, remove barriers, and empower young people to shape their own futures with confidence and purpose.
Weekly Tutor Time programme
A structured programme designed to develop the whole student.
Our carefully planned tutor time ensures that every week students engage in activities that support academic success, wellbeing, and future readiness.
|
Day |
Focus |
|
Monday |
Assembly & Mindfulness |
|
Tuesday |
PSHE (Personal, Social, Health Education) |
|
Wednesday |
Academic Integrity & Personal Development Bulletin |
|
Thursday |
Careers (UCAS, Apprenticeships, & Pathways) |
|
Friday |
Skill-Building & Volunteering |
This programme builds consistency, reflection, and ambition - key habits for success in sixth form and beyond.
Elective opportunities
Discover passions. Build confidence. Stand out.
Every student benefits from a weekly elective hour, designed to widen experiences and develop transferable skills. Students choose from a diverse and exciting range of opportunities, including:
- Textiles
- Debate
- Model UN
- STEM
- Sports
- Fashion
- Media
- Entrepreneurship
- Charity Fundraising
- Language & Culture
In addition, students can pursue the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, both highly regarded by universities and employers.
Leadership and mentoring
Leading with purpose, giving back with impact.
HGA Sixth Form students are encouraged to become role models and change-makers through leadership and mentoring opportunities, including:
- Sixth Form Student Leadership - meet our student leaders.
- Key Stage 3 Mentoring
- Peer Reading Mentors
- Behaviour Support Roles
These experiences build confidence, empathy, responsibility, and strong leadership skills valued far beyond school.
External partnerships
Opening doors to exceptional opportunities.
We work closely with leading national organisations to provide mentoring, internships, and university preparation programmes that transform aspirations into reality:
- Career Ready – Paid internships, mentoring, workplace visits
- NHS DISCOVER Mental Health
- Zero Gravity – Digital mentoring, scholarships, career guidance
- Harris Experience – Oxbridge/Medicine prep, interview coaching
- Social Mobility Foundation – Skills workshops, work experience
- Sutton Trust – Summer schools, pathways to professions
- Elixxir – Employability skills
Student success stories
Real students. Real impact.
Fayo (Year 13) – Aspiring lawyer, actively involved in Harris Experience Achieve, Career Ready, and multiple volunteering roles.
Deborah (former Year 13) – Completed 22 wider opportunities, mentored through Zero Gravity and Social Mobility Foundation, now pursuing midwifery at university.
Timi (former Year 13) – Benefited from work experience and mentoring, now studying International Political Economy.
At HGA Sixth Form, personal development is about more than enrichment - it’s about transformation.
We don’t just prepare students for exams. We prepare them for life, leadership, and limitless possibility.