What is the Intent of the PSHE and RSE Curriculum?
Our vision for PSHE is to deliver a challenging, meaningful and inclusive curriculum that equips students with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to navigate the opportunities and challenges they face both now and in the future. Through high-quality PSHE education, students develop the confidence, resilience and critical thinking skills needed to make informed decisions, maintain positive relationships, manage their wellbeing and become responsible members of society.
As recognised by the PSHE Association:
“PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) education is a school curriculum subject through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, now and in the future. PSHE education helps pupils to stay healthy, safe and prepared for life and work in modern Britain. When taught well, PSHE also helps pupils to achieve their academic potential.”
Legal Requirements and Curriculum Design
Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is a statutory part of the curriculum in all secondary schools. Our PSHE programme fulfils these statutory requirements while also reflecting the needs of our students and local community. The curriculum has been designed using guidance from the Department for Education, the PSHE Association and consultation with staff, parents and students.
The updated Department for Education guidance places greater emphasis on developing healthy relationships, understanding consent, challenging harmful online influences, fostering kindness and respect, promoting positive role models, and supporting students to develop the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health, wellbeing and future relationships.
The curriculum also supports students to recognise risk, understand safeguarding issues and know how and when to seek support for themselves or others. Students are encouraged to critically evaluate information and influences encountered online and offline, identify positive role models and challenge harmful stereotypes, misinformation, discriminatory attitudes and unhealthy relationship behaviours. The programme is regularly reviewed to reflect local safeguarding priorities and the evolving needs of young people in a rapidly changing society
PSHE is delivered through dedicated curriculum lessons and reinforced through our tutorial programme, ensuring that key messages are revisited regularly and embedded throughout students' school experience.
PSHE and Our Ethos
Value the Individual
Students are given opportunities to explore their identity, strengths, interests, values and aspirations. They develop self-awareness and reflect on their place within the school and wider community.
Achieve Potential
Students develop the personal, social and emotional skills needed to thrive academically, socially and personally, enabling them to achieve their full potential.
Prepare for Future
Students learn about the personal, social, health and economic issues they are likely to encounter as they move into adulthood. They develop the confidence and resilience needed to navigate these challenges successfully.
Enhance the Community
Students learn the importance of kindness, respect, inclusion and active citizenship, developing an appreciation for diverse communities and the positive contribution they can make to society.
RATIONALE
Core Curriculum Themes
Our PSHE curriculum is organised around three core themes:
Relationships
Health and Wellbeing
Living in the Wider World
These themes ensure students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to manage their relationships, maintain positive physical and mental health, and become informed and responsible citizens.
Tutorial Programme
In addition to timetabled PSHE lessons, key themes are delivered and reinforced through the tutorial curriculum. The tutorial programme focuses on three core areas:
Healthy Relationships
Students explore healthy friendships, family relationships, consent, communication, boundaries, online relationships and recognising unhealthy or abusive behaviours. The programme supports students in developing positive and respectful relationships throughout their lives.
Kindness and Respect
Students learn the importance of empathy, tolerance, inclusion and respect for others. They explore diversity, challenge discrimination and stereotypes, and develop an understanding of how their actions impact those around them. Students are also encouraged to challenge prejudice, sexism, misogyny, discrimination and harmful stereotypes, promoting equality, dignity and mutual respect within school and wider society. This reflects the updated RSHE guidance's emphasis on kindness, respect and positive role models.
Life Skills
Students develop practical skills that prepare them for adult life, including financial awareness, employability, decision-making, resilience, independent living, personal safety and managing change. These skills help students become confident, responsible and successful members of society. Students also develop the knowledge and skills needed to recognise potential risks, seek support when needed and make informed decisions that promote their safety, wellbeing and future success.
Key Concepts
Alongside the three curriculum themes, six key concepts are embedded throughout our PSHE provision.
Self-Concept
Students develop a strong understanding of who they are and who they aspire to be. They are encouraged to reflect critically on their values, ambitions and future pathways.
Respect for Self and Others
Students learn the importance of respecting themselves and others, celebrating diversity, valuing difference and contributing positively to their communities.
Consent and Boundaries
Students learn about personal boundaries, consent and respectful relationships in age-appropriate contexts. They develop the confidence to recognise and challenge behaviours that are unhealthy, unsafe or inappropriate.
Resilience Through Change
Students explore how life changes can affect wellbeing and develop strategies for coping with transitions and challenges in healthy and constructive ways.
Online and Media Literacy
Students critically evaluate information they encounter online and through the media. They learn how online content can influence beliefs, relationships and self-image, while developing strategies to stay safe online and challenge harmful or misleading content. Students learn to identify positive role models, recognise unhealthy online narratives and critically evaluate digital content, understanding how online influences can shape attitudes, behaviours and relationship expectations
Responsibility
Students develop an understanding of personal responsibility and accountability, recognising the impact of their choices on themselves, others and the wider community. They learn about the legal, social and ethical consequences of decisions and behaviours and are encouraged to become active, responsible citizens. Students develop an understanding of their role in creating safe, inclusive and respectful communities and recognise the positive contribution they can make both within school and in wider society.
