PSHE
Vision
To provide a focused and sequenced curriculum that supports students in developing the knowledge and skills they need across KS3-5 to deal with critical issues they face now such as emotional wellbeing and to prepare pupils to make informed decisions about the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities they will face in the future. To ensure statutory government guidance around Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is fully integrated into the curriculum and that staff are equipped to deliver strong and purposeful RSE lessons. To create a safe, positive, and inclusive environment where pupils can discuss sensitive and sometimes daunting topics and have complex discussions around critical issues. The Department for Education said "evidence shows that PSHE education can improve the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of pupils. Pupils with better health and wellbeing achieve better academically”.
PSHE Curriculum Intent
INCLUSIVE |
PSHE helps create an inclusive environment in schools and communities by fostering understanding, respect, and empathy among students. It promotes understanding of diversity, through introducing students to diverse cultures, beliefs, backgrounds, and lifestyles. PSHE education encourages respect for differences in race, gender, sexual orientation, ability and promoting a sense of belonging for everyone. We equip students with the skills to address and challenge discriminatory behaviors, prejudices, stereotypes, and bias, and ensure students feel valued and supported, to foster a positive and inclusive atmosphere. PSHE also prepares students to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts peacefully, reducing the likelihood of bullying or exclusion based on differences. |
SEQUENCED |
PSHE is sequenced across KS3-5 through our Big Ideas to ensure pupils successfully develop the knowledge and skills they need to thrive now and in the future. At KS3, PSHE is delivered through an integrated curriculum with religious studies that rotates every half term, with three units: Living in the Wider World, Relationships and Sex Education, and Health and Wellbeing. At KS4, half termly drop-down days centered around each Big Idea allows us to continue to deliver important PSHE content, with external speakers, workshops, and tailored sessions. The Key Stage 5 PSHE curriculum aims to equip students with essential life skills as they transition into adulthood. It focuses on promoting mental health and well-being, developing financial literacy, understanding healthy relationships, and preparing students for the challenges of higher education, employment, and independent living. Through PSHE, students will build resilience, enhance their decision-making abilities, and gain confidence to navigate the complexities of modern life. This is achieved through a combination of tutor time, weekly assemblies, and dedicated PSHE sessions, ensuring consistent guidance and support throughout the school year. |
FOCUSED |
The PSHE curriculum ensures that the knowledge pupils are learning at each Key Stage, is age appropriate and in line with government guidance, particularly in terms of the statutory guidance published in September 2020 for RSE. It also focuses on our Big Ideas to ensure pupils can link key themes. |
COHERENT |
PSHE provides coherent curriculum through equipping pupils with important knowledge and skills that is developed throughout KS3-5, through the continued study of six Big Ideas: Respectful Communities, Careers and Ambition, Healthy Relationships, Online Safety, Health and Wellbeing and Risk and Safety. Students are supported in understanding how the knowledge and skills developed in individual lessons relate to these Big Ideas, and how new knowledge builds on prior learning. |
Big Ideas
Respectful Communities
Respectful Communities are safe environments where each person in the community is respected as a unique and contributing member. These are cohesive communities where people can tackle problems, provide mutual support and to work together for a positive future free from discrimination, prejudice, or intolerance. This might be local, national, or international communities.
Careers and Ambition
Developing important interpersonal, enterprise and study skills to thrive in education and the workplace, to prepare for important events like GCSE options, work experience and application processes for post-16 and university and assess different career pathways and employment rights and responsibilities.
Healthy Relationships
Healthy relationships are relationships that are respectful, stable, healthy, and joyful. There are a variety of different types of relationships including romantic, friendships, and relationships with family. Managing conflict, identifying unhealthy behaviours, understanding how to seek support for abuse, and judging readiness for intimacy are important aspects of forming healthy and stable relationships. Understanding sexual health, the meaning of consent, and methods of contraception will also be important aspects of developing healthy relationships and preparing for sexual activity.
Online Safety
Being aware of online dangers like grooming, cyberbullying, sharing indecent imagery, social media, extremism, and developing strategies we can use to stay safe online, challenge online hate, build digital resilience and maintain a positive online presence.
Health and Wellbeing
Focuses on the importance of our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. This includes understanding changes in our physical and mental health that can occur with puberty and the potential impacts, how to deal with challenges to our mental health, taking responsibility for our physical health and knowing potential dangers to health like vaping, alcohol, and drugs and how to protect your health.
Risk and Safety
Risk and safety is about understanding potential risks and understanding how to protect yourself and remain safe. Potential risks cover road traffic, drugs, alcohol, vaping, peer pressure and involvement in gangs. Understanding how to make positive financial decisions for the future, through assessing potential financial risks, what makes products good value for money, the benefits of savings accounts and understanding how to effectively budget.
Embedding our Core Values:
Trust
PSHE education helps deliver trust by fostering open communication, integrity, and responsibility in students. It teaches students the importance of being open and honest in their relationships with peers, teachers, and family. Lessons on effective communication emphasize speaking truthfully and listening with respect, both key elements of trust. PSHE promotes Integrity and Accountability. Students learn about the value of doing the right thing, even when it's difficult. By encouraging responsibility for one’s actions and understanding the consequences of dishonesty, PSHE reinforces trustworthiness as a personal quality. PSHE teaches boundaries and consent. In topics related to relationships and personal safety, lessons teach students the importance of respecting boundaries and seeking consent. This fosters trust by ensuring that students understand how to respect others' choices and expect the same in return.
Kindness
PSHE education promotes kindness through encouraging students to understand and share the feelings of others. By teaching empathy, students become more aware of how their actions impact those around them, leading to more thoughtful and kind behaviour. Through lessons on friendships, family, and community help students recognize the importance of kindness in forming and maintaining positive, healthy, respectful relationships. PSHE also addresses bullying, emphasizing the value of kindness in creating a safe and supportive environment. It equips students with tools to recognize and challenge unkind behaviour, promoting a culture of support. By teaching students to care for their own and others' mental and emotional well-being, PSHE encourages kindness towards oneself and others, helping to foster resilience and self-compassion. PSHE also educates students on the importance of contributing positively to society, motivating them to practice kindness in everyday life, whether through community service or being respectful to peers. By embedding kindness into the Big Ideas of every lesson, PSHE helps cultivate a nurturing and caring environment, both inside and outside the classroom.
Endeavour
PSHE education teaches students the value of endeavour by fostering resilience, goal-setting, perseverance, and a growth mindset in students. PSHE teaches students how to set realistic, personal, and academic goals. By guiding them through the process of planning and working towards their objectives, PSHE instils the importance of effort and determination in achieving success. Through lessons on overcoming challenges, managing stress, and developing coping strategies, PSHE helps students understand that setbacks are a part of life. It teaches them to keep trying, even when things are difficult, reinforcing the importance of persistence. PSHE also helps students understand the value of self-discipline, focus, and motivation in working toward long-term goals. It teaches students to take responsibility for their actions and remain committed to their personal development. By encouraging creative and critical thinking in problem-solving, PSHE equips students with the ability to tackle obstacles in different aspects of life. This reinforces the idea that perseverance and determination are key to overcoming difficulties.