Personal Development Profile

Kingdown School

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FILE

Name: ________________________ Tutor group: ___________________

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INTRODUCTION

In order to make a positive difference to what happens in your life, the lives of others in your family, and to the lives of those in your community, you will need to develop a variety of personal qualities and skills. It is important that you understand the qualities and skills which are essential in preparing you for a successful and fulfilling adult life. This Personal Development File provides you with advice about how to collect and record evidence which demonstrates your personal qualities, skills and achievements. It will also provide you with a portfolio of evidence which can be used by you to write your Personal Statements; by admissions tutors at sixth forms and colleges; and by future employers. Some examples of the kinds of evidence you might collect are: coursework, work-experience reports, newsletter or newspaper articles, digital photographs or video-clips, and reward certificates.

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Your Personal Development File will be divided into eight sections, each focusing on a quality or skill which you will need to develop. The eight skills are explained in the table below.

Communication

The ability to discuss and present ideas or information in a one-to-one situation, and in groups (both small and large). It also means communicating in formal and informal situations.

ICT

Being able to use computers and related technology to communicate, solve problems and present.

Application of number

The ability to use statistics, measurements, formulas and financial information

Working with others

Being able to work successfully with others and working as hard as other members of a team. It means you need to be organised, flexible, patient, co-operative and supportive.

Creativity

Using your imagination, coming up with new ideas, or making things.

Problem-solving

Being good at working out solutions to deal with a wide range of problems. It involves being keen to find answers, being practical and logical.

Commitment

Working hard and maintaining high standards. It often involves giving up your own time and supporting others. It also means persevering with something

Leadership

Motivating others, making decisions, using your initiative; setting an example; making things happen; taking responsibility

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How confident are you in…? Before you begin to collect evidence it is worth reflecting on which of the eight qualities/skills you feel most confident about. Read through each question and think about how you have shown each of these qualities or skills. Give yourself a score for each question (circle the number). 0 = need help 1 = not very confident 2 = fairly confident 3 = very confident CIRCLE YOUR SCORE COMMUNICATION Speaking to groups of people? Summarising information in reading materials? Writing good essays or reports?

0 0 0

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

ICT Using ICT to search for information, e.g. database, Internet Using ICT to develop information (text, images, numbers) Using ICT to present information (text, images, numbers)

0 0 0

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

APPLICATION OF NUMBER Understanding numbers in charts, graphs and diagrams? Making calculations e.g. to work out costs, amounts, sizes? Presenting your results, e.g. using charts or diagrams?

0 0 0

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

WORKING WITH OTHERS Helping plan a group activity and share out tasks? Organising and completing your own tasks safely? Helping others to meet their responsibilities?

0 0 0

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

CREATIVITY Thinking up new ideas? Developing and adapting an idea? Creating e.g. words, music, DT, Art?

0 0 0

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

PROBLEM SOLVING Collecting information about a problem? Coming up with different ways of solving it? Checking if the problem has been solved?

0 0 0

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

COMMITMENT Planning how you will achieve something? Working steadily? Sticking with a task or project even if it’s difficult?

0 0 0

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

LEADERSHIP Taking a leading role in a group task? Getting people to follow your instructions? Making decisions?

0 0 0

1 1 1

2 2 2

3 3 3

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COMMUNICATION

This means the ability to discuss and present ideas or information in a one-toone situation, and in groups, both small and large. It also means communicating in formal and informal situations. e.g. giving a presentation in assembly; taking part in a group discussion in a PSHE lesson; one-to-one interviews; part-time jobs; work-experience. Date:term & year

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ICT

This means being able to use computers and related technology to: (a) communicate e.g. sending e-mails; PowerPoint presentations; spreadsheets; curriculum vitas; designing web-sites; multi-media (b) solve problems e.g. spreadsheets, programming, CADCam in DT (c) present e.g. PowerPoint; web-pages; word-processing; presenting information. Date:term & year

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APPLICATION OF NUMBER

This means the ability to use statistics, measurement and financial information e.g. using calculations and budgets in a design project for DT; dealing with money in a part-time job; personal budgeting like saving up for an item. Date:term & year

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WORKING WITH OTHERS

This means being able to work successfully with others and working as hard as other members of a team. It means you need to be organised, flexible, patient, co-operative and supportive. e.g. Duke of Edinburgh; Enterprise Day; group presentation; work-experience; team games; planning an event; Student Council; part-time job. Date:term & year

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CREATIVITY

This means using your imagination, coming up with new ideas, or making things e.g. practical work in Art and DT; any performing arts like music, dance and drama (in or out of school); writing poetry or other forms of creative writing. Date:term & year

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PROBLEM-SOLVING

This means being good at working out solutions to deal with a wide range of problems. It involves being keen to find answers, being practical and logical e.g. problem-solving in lessons; Duke of Edinburgh; peer mentors; workexperience. Date:term & year

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COMMITMENT

This means working hard and maintaining high standards. It often involves giving up your own time and supporting others. It also means persevering with something e.g. improving coursework; attending extra-curricular lessons or activities; commitment to school sports or outside sports teams; school productions; charity work; clubs outside school; prefects, Student Council and other roles of responsibility. Date:term & year

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LEADERSHIP

This means motivating others, making decisions, using your initiative; setting and example; making things happen; taking responsibility e.g. holding a position of responsibility; sports teams; Duke of Edinburgh; Student Council; prefect; form reps; peer mentors; showing leadership qualities in group projects like drama; finding your own work-experience placement. Date:term & year

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REVIEW PAGES These pages are for you to review your progress at regular intervals during your Upper School years. This will give you the opportunity to recognise which skills or qualities you have used the most and which are the ones you need to target. Review 1 : Year 10 Date: Which of the eight skills/qualities have you used the most? Any comments?

Which skill area are you going to target next term and how?

Review 2 : Year 10 Date: Which of the eight skills/qualities have you used the most? Any comments?

Which skill area are you going to target next term and how?

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Review 3 : Year 10 Date: Which of the eight skills/qualities have you used the most? Any comments?

Which skill area are you going to target in Year 11? What sorts of things will you do to help you achieve this target?

What achievement are you most proud of this year and why?

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REVIEW PAGES – YEAR 11 Review 1 : Year 11 Date: Which of the eight skills/qualities do you feel most confident about? Any comments?

Which skills do you need to develop to be successful in Year 11?

Review 2 : Year 11 Date: Which of the eight skills/qualities do you feel you have developed the most in Year 11? Any comments?

Which skill area do you need to develop to be successful when you leave school?

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