Kingdown School

PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT
FILE

Name: ________________________

Tutor group: ___________________

1
 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 The ability to use statistics, measurements, formulas and

financial information
number

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? 0 1 2 3
Summarising information in reading materials? 0 1 2 3
Writing good essays or reports? 0 1 2 3

ICT
Using ICT to search for information, e.g. database, Internet 0 1 2 3
Using ICT to develop information (text, images, numbers) 0 1 2 3
Using ICT to present information (text, images, numbers) 0 1 2 3

APPLICATION OF NUMBER
Understanding numbers in charts, graphs and diagrams? 0 1 2 3
Making calculations e.g. to work out costs, amounts, sizes? 0 1 2 3
Presenting your results, e.g. using charts or diagrams? 0 1 2 3

WORKING WITH OTHERS

Helping plan a group activity and share out tasks? 0 1 2 3
Organising and completing your own tasks safely? 0 1 2 3
Helping others to meet their responsibilities? 0 1 2 3

CREATIVITY
Thinking up new ideas? 0 1 2 3
Developing and adapting an idea? 0 1 2 3
Creating e.g. words, music, DT, Art? 0 1 2 3

PROBLEM SOLVING
Collecting information about a problem? 0 1 2 3
Coming up with different ways of solving it? 0 1 2 3
Checking if the problem has been solved? 0 1 2 3

COMMITMENT
Planning how you will achieve something? 0 1 2 3
Working steadily? 0 1 2 3
Sticking with a task or project even if it’s difficult? 0 1 2 3

LEADERSHIP
Taking a leading role in a group task? 0 1 2 3
Getting people to follow your instructions? 0 1 2 3
Making decisions? 0 1 2 3

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5
 COMMUNICATION

This means 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.
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

6
 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

7
 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

8
 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

9
 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

10
 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; work-
experience.

Date:term
& year

11
 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

12
 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

13
 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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