Personal Development (PD) Seminars are our version of traditional sixth form college tutorials.

The aim of everything we do at Connell is geared to helping you prepare for your next steps. We want to make sure you leave us with good qualifications, that you stand out from the crowd, and that you’re equipped to navigate the real world as safe, responsible citizens. This is where our weekly PD Seminars come in; you’ll have one in your timetable each week that you must attend.

What happens in PD Seminars?

Our seminars have been created to provide you with a helpful and supportive environment to prepare you for your next steps, and to support you with anything that you may need during your time at Connell.

There will be two Progression Tutors in each seminar: one will deliver the ‘CORE curriculum’ item of the week and meet with students one-to-one on a rotating basis, and the other will be available to support you as you work independently and reflect on your progress and college performance data. 

Our Progression Tutors will be a familiar face for you. Their job is to help and guide you in the right direction. They’ll help you apply for university, and will track your performance during your time here at Connell. You will have an online Unifrog account, where you can document all your progress throughout the year, including any employer interactions.

What’s covered in PD Seminars? 

There are five elements that are covered during PD Seminars:

• Notices and Careers — A quick run through the college need-to-knows for the coming week and an overview of career opportunities.
• CORE Curriculum — A programme of activities, experiences and topics, all designed to develop your skills, and ensure you’re ready for your next steps and living independently in the future. See below for more info. 
• Academic Skill Development — Sessions to increase your academic skills in things such as researching, referencing, study habits, memorising, and academic reading/writing. And time to do some studying/homework!
• Attendance and Admin — Ensuring your performance data is correct, and planning how to improve/what you need to do next.
• Personal Reflection Time — One-to-one meetings with your progression tutor, covering: bespoke learning pathways, independent study, college opportunities and your Unifrog record.

What is the CORE Curriculum?

It’s a programme of activities, experiences and topics, designed to develop your skills, and ensure you’re ready for your next steps and living independently in the future.

Through a mixed learning approach, you’ll develop personally and professionally. You’ll pick up life, employability, and financial skills. As well as study, social, and emotional skills. And you’ll develop your oracy skills, through topical discussions and debates. And, of course, you’ll build up your knowledge around university, apprenticeship and job opportunities so that you can make the right choice for your future when you leave Connell.