PSHE
PSHE education is a planned, developmental programme of learning through which children and young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives now and in the future. As part of a whole-school approach, (for example Health Related Fitness in PE lessons) PSHE education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. From a Catholic viewpoint, the values underlying PSHE are based on the fact that we are all Children of God and as such we respect others and we respect ourselves.
PSHE education further contributes to personal development by helping pupils to build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem, and to identify and manage risk, make informed choices and understand what influences their decisions. It enables them to recognise, accept and shape their identities, to understand and accommodate difference and change, to manage emotions and to communicate constructively in a variety of settings. Developing an understanding of themselves, empathy and the ability to work with others will help pupils to form and maintain good relationships, develop the essential skills for future employability and better enjoy and manage their lives.
In the Sixth Form, provision is built into the school calendar both for weekly timetabled PSHE sessions and for whole and half day sessions. Examples of such extended sessions are writing personal statements, team building activities during the year 12 retreat and workshops on study skills and careers.
The overarching aim for PSHE education is to provide pupils with:
- accurate and relevant knowledge
- opportunities to turn that knowledge into personal understanding
- opportunities to explore, clarify and if necessary challenge, their own and others’ values, attitudes, beliefs, rights and responsibilities
- the skills, language and strategies they need in order to live healthy, safe, fulfilling, responsible and balanced lives
Listed below are the main topics that are covered in each year.
year 7
- Transition and settling into Year 7
- Government and politics – our voting system
- World religions
- Health and well-being including:
- sex and relationships education
- friendships
- e-safety and cyber bullying
- smoking
- Road / Cycle safety
- Healthy eating and exercise
- Relationships including:
- anti-bullying
- supporting the community through charity fundraising
- Resilience and building learning power
- Economic education including managing money
- Living in the wider world
- Diversity
- Equality and disability
- British Values – Laws and Prevent
- Active Citizenship – Switch it off Campaign
year 8
- Government and politics – our civil liberties
- World religions
- Health and well-being including:
- sex and relationships education
- e-safety and cyber bullying
- smoking
- mental health
- health and personal hygiene
- healthy eating and exercise
- First aid
- Relationships including:
- anti-bullying
- friendships
- supporting the community through charity fundraising
- Sexting & Mobile phone safety
- Resilience and building learning power
- Economic education including bank accounts
- Living in the wider world
- Diversity
- Equality and disability
- Fundamental British Values
- PREVENT and RUN, HIDE and TELL
- Active Citizenship – Switch it Off Campaign
year 9
- Government and politics – the justice system
- World religions
- Health and well-being including:
- sex and relationships education
- e-safety and cyber bullying
- mental health and managing stress
- alcohol and drugs
- body image / mental health
- healthy eating
- Relationships including:
- anti-bullying
- equality
- knife crime
- supporting the community through charity fundraising
- FGM
- Resilience and building learning power
- Economic education including debt
- Living in the wider world
- Diversity
- Equality and disability
- British Values – Laws and Prevent
- Active Citizenship – Switch it Off Campaign
year 10
- Government and politics – the electoral system
- World religions
- First aid
- Health and well-being including:
- self-confidence / self-esteem
- sex and relationships education including FGM
- e-safety and cyber bullying
- alcohol
- mental health and managing exam stress
- Relationships including:
- Anti-bullying
- Supporting the community through charity fundraising
- Domestic violence
- Contraception
- Bereavement
- Sexual exploitation
- Resilience and building learning power
- Economic education including budgeting and income
- Careers including:
- Choices and pathways for the future
- CV writing
- Living in the wider world:
- Diversity
- Equality and disability
- British Values – Laws and Prevent
- Active Citizenship – Switch it Off Campaign
year 11
- Government and politics – the legal system
- World religions
- Health and well-being including:
- sex and relationships education including choices and responsibilities
- e-safety and cyber bullying
- drugs awareness
- mental health and managing exam stress
- road / cycle safety
- healthy eating and living
- Relationships including:
- anti-bullying
- supporting the community through charity fundraising
- domestic violence
- Resilience and building learning power
- Economic education including money management
- Careers including:
- choices and pathways for the future
- Living in the wider world:
- Diversity
- Equality and disability – Holocaust Memorial Day
- British Values – Laws and Prevent
- Active Citizenship – Switch it Off Campaign
year 12
Autumn Term
- Bridging the gap - having the motivation to succeed – one day workshop
- Developing yourself in Leadership roles
- Study skills required for independent learning, organising of work, folders
- Time management
- Making effective use of study time
- Personal Development – keep safe – Suzi Lamplugh trust
- Alternatives to University – one day workshop by the Career Crowd
- Eco awareness
Spring Term
- Resolving disputes
- Rules of Law
- Valuing and respecting alternative points of view
- E-safety
- Understanding your personality traits
- Fixed or growth thinker
- Understanding the arguments surrounding migration
- Selecting Work Experience placements for the summer term
Summer Term
- Love, relationships and responsibilities
- Dealing with stress
- Mental Health & Managing Examination Stress
- The Law and Young People
- Elections and different voting systems
- How to manage on a budget
- Healthy eating
- Dangers of drug and alcohol addiction
- How the UCAS application process works
year 13
Autumn Term
- Progression to Year 13
- Fundraising and community service
- UCAS workshop - speaker in
- Writing a Personal Statement
- Researching University courses
- Completing a UCAS Form
- Speaker – Student Finance
- Impact Report after AP1 and AP2
- Eco awareness
Spring Term
- Selecting your University offers
- Impact report after AP3
- Rules of Law
- Tolerance and Respect
- E-safety
- Community Service
- Fixed or growth thinker
- Valuing and respecting alternative points of view
Summer Term
- How Laws are made – elections and different voting systems
- How to manage on a budget
- Dealing with stress
- Mental Health & Managing Examination Stress
- Impact report after AP4
- Healthy eating at University
- Talk by Examinations Officer on Examinations Procedures
In addition, various outside speakers visit the school to discuss and share their experiences.