ASDAN’s flexible curriculum builds personal reflection skills and community connection

We visited learners at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff who are engaging in our Personal Development Programmes (PDP). We spoke to Janet McCormack, who coordinates the ASDAN programe in the ALN resource base, about the flexibility of the course and the positive impact it’s having on learners’ confidence and life skills.

ASDAN’s Personal Development Programmes engage and motivate learners through a flexible, personalised curriculum. Aimed at learners aged 13 and above, working at Entry level 3 to Level 1, the course compliments core subjects while supporting the development of essential life skills.

The programmes are available in Bronze, Silver and Gold and are suitable for use in all educational settings:

Bronze: Awards 6 credits (approx. 60 hours of learning)

Silver: Awards 12 credits (approx. 120 hours of learning)

Gold: 18 credits (approx. 180 hours of learning)

Practical, community-focused projects

We were welcomed at Whitchurch High School with an impressive ASDAN display and presentation. Each student spoke confidently about their PDP projects, which included making cushions, working in a local café and researching endangered animals through the adoption of a polar bear.

“We’ve been delivering ASDAN’s PDP to our sixth formers for many years and it goes from strength to strength," says Janet McCormack. “We really like how each module and activity is open for interpretation – you can develop it in any way to support pupils needs and to maximise their skills.”

“One of the course’s key strengths is its flexibility. Each module includes an other agreed challenge option, allowing educators to create personalised tasks that reflect learners’ interests and local contexts.”

“The flexibility means our student can work towards a range of outcomes. They progress from Bronze to Gold while engaging in meaningful, hands-on learning,” Janet added.

Real-world learning and life skills

Through PDP, learners are encouraged to apply their learning in real-world settings. Students have contributed to community projects such as charity work, environmental initiatives, and customer-facing roles.

“PDP allows us to do lots of outreach work as part of our sixth form curriculum,” said Janet. “Students gain confidence by interacting with the public and learning practical skills that prepare them for adulthood.”

ASDAN’s approach enables core curriculum learning through engaging activities. For example, learners develop mathematics skills by planning events or comparing prices, combining functional skills with creative problem-solving.

“It’s about making core learning meaningful,” says Janet. “When learners are enjoying what they’re doing, they retain more and feel a sense of pride in what they’ve achieved.”

Developing skills in personal reflection and peer assessment

The course structure encourages self-reflection and peer assessment, helping students recognise their own progress and value the work of others.

“The student book acts as a great portfolio. It shows clear evidence of progression and includes guided reflection tasks. At the start, learners need support to complete these but by the end, they can reflect independently with real pride,” said Janet.

Whitchurch High School also uses creative methods to support metacognition, including origami tutorials that help learners understand their preferred learning styles.

“It’s amazing to see their confidence grow and become more assertive and self-aware. Our students leave the course with a stronger sense of self and the ability to express it,” said Janet.

“The peer assessment element is really powerful. Students give constructive feedback because they know someone will be reviewing their work too. It builds mutual respect and engagement.”

Launching a digital learning platform

This autumn, ASDAN will launch Equitas – a new digital learning platform to support the delivery and tracking of its courses. Developed in response to feedback from educators, the platform will make courses more accessible and efficient to deliver.

A selection of ASDAN’s Short Courses will be the first to be launched on this platform, which will be available for learners starting their courses from November 2025. See what courses will be on the platform and find out more on our digital learning webpage. ASDAN’s Personal Development Programme will be available on Equitas in 2026 – look out for updates on what’s coming next on Equitas.

“While we value the physical books, having the option for digital student books would be brilliant. Learners could access and complete tasks more easily, both in school and on the move,” said Janet.

“We currently have a vast catalogue of hard copy student books. Being able to upload everything digitally, and track learner credits in real time, would be a game-changer.”

ASDAN’s new platform will support teachers by providing a clear, centralised way to monitor learner progress, share records and manage coursework. It’s a key step forward in making the PDP even more accessible and adaptable for mainstream settings.

“PDP fits so well with our curriculum. It supports practical skills and offers clear pathways for progression. Learners enjoy looking back through their portfolio and seeing how far they’ve come,” said Janet.

To find out more about how our Personal Development Programmes (PDP) could support your learners, or to speak with an ASDAN education expert, complete our expression of interest form.