PSHE/RSE

PSHE

PSHE Overview

As a part of your child’s education at Writhlington school, we promote personal wellbeing and development through a comprehensive Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programme.

PSHE education is the curriculum subject that gives young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live safe, healthy, productive lives and meet their full potential. Students take part in lessons which will focus on the relationships and sex education (RSE) aspect of this programme. RSE lessons are age appropriate and include relevant areas including: Healthy relationships, including friendships and intimate relationships; families; growing and changing, including puberty; personal hygiene; changing feelings; becoming more independent; keeping safe and consent; developing self-esteem and confidence.

Students will also have opportunities to ask questions that help prepare them for relationships of all kinds in the modern world. PSHE education is taught throughout the school in every year group and is monitored and reviewed regularly by the staff and governing body. Please see below for more detail about our PSHE curriculum. All PSHE teaching takes place will take place in a safe learning environment and is underpinned by our school ethos and values.

PSHE education is a school subject through which students develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and prepared for life and work. PSHE has an impact on both academic and non-academic outcomes for students, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

Our PSHE Curriculum aims to develop skills and attributes such as resilience, self-esteem, risk-management, teamworking and critical thinking in the context of three core themes: health and wellbeing, relationships and living in the wider world (including economic wellbeing and aspects of careers education).

The national curriculum also states that ‘all schools should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE), drawing on good practice’. PSHE education contributes to schools’ statutory duties outlined in the Education Act 2002 and the Academies Act 2010 to provide a balanced and broadly-based curriculum and is essential to Ofsted judgements in relation to personal development, behaviour, welfare and safeguarding. The relationships and health aspects of PSHE education and is compulsory for all schools from September 2020.

How can PSHE education benefit students?

PSHE education helps students to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage life’s challenges and make the most of life’s opportunities.

There is evidence to show that PSHE education can address teenage pregnancy, substance misuse, unhealthy eating, lack of physical activity, emotional health and other key issues. PSHE can also tackle barriers to learning, raise aspirations, and improve the life chances of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged students.

How does PSHE education help schools to meet their statutory duties?

Under section 78 of the Education Act 2002 and the Academies Act 2010, schools must provide a ‘balanced and broadly-based curriculum’ which promotes ‘the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of students at the school and of society, and prepares students at the school for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life’.

PSHE education makes a major contribution to schools fulfilling this duty.

Schools also have duties in relation to promoting student wellbeing and student safeguarding (Children Act 2004) and community cohesion (Education Act 2006). Paragraph 41 of statutory guidance on Keeping Children Safe in Education, the Department for Education states that ‘schools should consider how children may be taught about safeguarding, including online, through teaching and learning opportunities. This may include covering relevant issues through PSHE…’

Relevant issues which may be covered in PSHE education include: child sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse, sharing of sexual images, the impact of online pornography on students, the dangers of extremism and radicalisation, forced marriage, honour-based violence and female genital mutilation.

The Equality Act 2010 also places duties on schools not just to address prejudice-based bullying but also to help to prevent it happening, and in doing so to keep protected characteristic groups safe. PSHE education, with its focus on identity and equality, can help schools to fulfil this duty.

It is now a statutory requirement that PSHE is delivered in school and so you will see that PSHE will be delivered in different ways at Writhlington School. Firstly, in weekly tutor sessions and secondly via a team of teachers in the same way as any other curriculum subject.

Click here to view the curriculum intent, implementation and programme of study for PSHE / RSE.

Changes to PSHE Secondary Education from September 2020

Parents will not be able to withdraw their child from any aspect of relationships education or health education.

Parents will be able to withdraw their child from any or all aspects of sex education, other than those which are part of the science curriculum, up to and until three terms before the age of 16. However, this can only happen after discussion with the school. Please contact Mr Burr, the Deputy Heateacher.  

After that point, the guidance states that “if the child wishes to receive sex education rather than be withdrawn, the school should make arrangements to provide the child with sex education during one of those terms”. 

Where students are withdrawn from sex education, schools will document the process and will “ensure that the student receives appropriate, purposeful education during the period of withdrawal”.

We of course encourage all students to access all parts of the PSHE curriculum. We see this curriculum subject as one which gives young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills they need to live safe, healthy, productive lives and realise their full potential.

Relationship & Sex Education 2022/23

Year GroupLesson focus

Year 7: Term 3

Topic: Health, Wellbeing and Relationships
Healthy Lifestyles
Healthy Eating
Energy Drinks
Puberty
What are periods?
Managing puberty
Safe and Private
The importance of sleep
The importance of exercise
The media and healthy lifestyles
Year 8: Term 4 Topic: Health and Wellbeing
How dangerous are drugs and what are the different types?
Smoking and vaping
The truth about alcohol
Risk of alcohol and drug problems
What exactly is cancer? Can we do anything to prevent it
Health choices: vaccinations, blood and organ donation, stem cells and hygien
Year 8: Term 5 Topic: Relationships
Friendships
Positive relationships
Managing feelings and consent
Pregnancy
What are the consequences of sending child produced sexual imagery?
Managing conflict
Child on Child Bullying
Self Esteem and Body Image
Year 9: Term 4 Topic: Relationships and Sex Education
Relationships
What is consent?
Body Parts
What is sexual health?
Safer Sex
Contraception
What is worrying about pornography?
What is Child Sexual Exploitation and how does it happen?
FGM
Where to go for help
Year 9: Term 5 Topic: Wellbeing
Emotional Health Awareness
Mental Health Awareness
Depression
Self Injury
Anxiety
Dealing with stress
Selfie Safety and sharing images
Body Image and Self Esteem
What is mindfulnes?
Year 9: Term 6 Topic: First Aid
Primary Survey
Recovery Position
Resuscitation
First Aid Kits
Bleeding and Shock
Year 10: Term 2 Topic: Health and Wellbeing
Ground Rules and Pupil Consultation
What is a hate crime?
Alcohol and young people
Anxiety and Social Anxiety
Grief and bereavement
Social Media and Self Esteem
Public Sexual Harassment
Putting the Men in Mental Health (Suicide Prevention)
Year 10: Term 6 Topic: Relationships and Sex Education
What does a Healthy Relationship look like including consent
Sex and sexuality
Screwball
Fertility and Reproductive Health (link to drugs, alcohol, STIsl)
Forced Marriage and Honour based violence
Privilege, power and gender prejudice
Stalking and Harassment
Year 11: Term 2 Topic: Relationships and Sex Education
Building ethical relationships & consent
What does “ sex” even mean?
Contraception
STI’s (Inc. HIV)
Pregnancy and parenthood
Planet Porn vs Planet Reality
Revenge Porn and image sharing
Year 11: Term 3 and 4 Topic: Health, Wellbeing and the Wider World
Alcohol and Drugs at Clubs, festivals and parties
Cyber Safety and Online Fraud
Gambling
Digital Footprints
Personal Safety (Including drugs and alcohol)
CPR
Privilege, Power and Prejudice
Abortion
Euthanasia
Organ and Blood Donation
Dealing with Exams
The Importance of sleep
 Year 12: Term 3 Topic: SRE
Consent
Contraception
STI’s
Destructive behaviors 
Year 12: Term 4 Topic: Health and Wellbeing
Sleep
Wellness
Mental Health
Stress
Mindfulness
Year 12: Term 5 Topic: Identity and Relationships
Identity
Disability
Body image
Pregnancy
Marriage
Year 13: Term 1 Topic: SRE
Consent
Contraception
STI’s
Destructive behaviors
Year 13: Term 2 Topic: Equality and Rights
Employment rights
Whistleblowing
Black History Month
Year 13: Term 4 Topic: Emotional Awareness
Why learn to tackle difficult relationships
How do you tackle difficult conversationsTruth and perception
Seek their story before you tell yours
Talk about your feelings
What’s my emotion
Always think about impact
Tackling your own identity
Mind your language
Strategies to help others talk
Reflection on Easter Mock exams