PSHE

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

- A. A. Milne

PSHE is crucial in supporting our pupils to live healthy, safe, productive and balanced lives.  We believe that effective teaching of this subject will increase pupils understanding of a set of overarching concepts including; identity, risk, diversity and equality, rights and change. Our curriculum will give pupils the opportunity to explore their attitudes, values and beliefs and develop the skills, strategies and language necessary to manage these issues in their lives.

The PHSE Association programme of study has 3 core themes that underpin the teaching of this subject; Health and Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World. In line with recent government statutory guidance, our main focus will be the Relationships and Sex Education element of the curriculum, however, feedback gathered from pupils, parents and the staff team has informed our decision to include topics from the Health and Wellbeing theme which will include mental health, making informed decisions about drugs and alcohol and will also cover the important topic of online safety and how this can impact issues such as; mental health and personal safety. The core theme of Living in the Wider World will be covered in our discreet Careers and Personal Finance lessons.

This broad approach to teaching the PSHE curriculum will avoid the tendency to teach the topics as one-off subjects and enable pupils to revisit subjects and build on their previously acquired knowledge and make links to other topics, ensuring that learning is embedded and remembered by pupils, helping them to manage their lives now and in the future. This will be a challenge, however, the related nature of much of the material will help pupils to make links between subjects and use their newly acquired knowledge. We aim to give all pupils the opportunity to ask questions and discuss any concerns they may have about the important issues facing them in their everyday lives, whilst encouraging them to look at the wider issues and supporting them to increase their resilience and equip them with the tools to take responsibility for their choices.

Believe, Achieve, Exceed:

In PSHE, we contribute to the BELIEVE curriculum by addressing the SMSC/BV and careers within different topics. For example, we address the wider ethical issues generated by the use of social media and the increasingly pertinent issues around consent and positive relationships. The opportunity for students to discuss these often controversial and difficult subjects in a safe and supportive environment develops their ability to make positive decisions which will protect their physical and mental health, now and in the future. PSHE contributes to the ACHIEVE curriculum by supporting the core subjects, allowing students to explore issues covered in the science curriculum and how these topics affect them personally. It also supports students within the English curriculum allowing students to develop constructive and balanced arguments. Finally, PSHE contributes to the EXCEED curriculum by supporting students to see their lives in a wider context, as part of a family, community and wider society. Supporting students to lead empowered and fulfilling lives and helping them to positively contribute to society now and in the future.