PHSE

Curriculum Aim

PSHE education develops the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. 

PSHE education contributes to personal development by helping pupils to build on 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. 

We look to follow three key themes across the PSHE curriculum with all the units of study fitting under one or more of the following: 

- Health and Wellbeing 

- Relationships (including Sex Education) 

- Living in the Wider World. 

Our PSHE curriculum is enhanced through different groups and education providers such as the Violent Reduction Unit (linked to Northumbria police), guest performances and speakers, and New Writing North to name but a few.

Highlights of our KS3 Curriculum 

PSHE education at Key Stage 3 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. In Key Stage 3, students will understand what makes a healthy relationship, begin to think about what careers they could go into, and understand about their rights and responsibilities.

Highlights of our KS4 curriculum

In Key Stage 4, our students will begin to think seriously about their future, including deciding what they wish to pursue after their GCSEs. Students will also think carefully about how to look after their own mental health and how to manage a budget. We will continue to ensure that students understand how to maintain safe and healthy relationships.

Relationships and Sex Education

RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) is taught within the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education curriculum. Biological aspects of RSE are also taught within the Science curriculum, and other aspects are included in Religious Education (PRE) and Physical Education (PE). However, aspects of RSE may be covered in almost all subject areas and all teachers will be trained to be able to address questions that students may have in an age-appropriate manner that is compliant with this policy. 

RSE focuses on giving young people the information they need to help them develop healthy, nurturing relationships of all kinds including: 

• Families 

• Respectful relationships, including friendships 

• Online and media 

• Being safe 

• Intimate and sexual relationships, including sexual health 

These areas of learning are taught within the context of family life taking care to ensure that there is no stigmatisation of children based on their home circumstances (families can include single parent families, LGBT parents, families headed by grandparents, adoptive parents, foster parents/carers amongst other structures) along with reflecting sensitively that some children may have a different structure of support around them (for example: looked after children or young carers). 

High-quality, evidence-based and age-appropriate teaching can help students prepare for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life as well as promoting the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of students both at school and in society. For every young person to be prepared for life in modern Britain, it's vital that their curriculum reflects the full diversity of the world they live in.

British Values

We develop and promote British Values throughout our school and within our whole school curriculum. The PSHE curriculum will often have clear links to these. The five British Values are: 

• The Rule of Law 

• Democracy 

• Individual LibertyBritish  

• Mutual Respect 

• Tolerance for those of different faiths and beliefs 

Assemblies, tutor times and special events are also used as opportunities to promote these fundamental British Values as part of the broader Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development of our students.

Please take the time to read the attached documents.