PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship & Economic Education)

PSHE & RSE

We want to prepare learners for every stage of life by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions, manage risks and thrive in an increasingly complex world. Through a comprehensive PSHCE programme, including statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), we teach pupils how and when to seek help, where to access support, and how to build healthy relationships.

Our curriculum provides opportunities to reflect on personal values and influences, promotes gender equality and LGBTQ+ inclusion, and actively challenges all forms of discrimination. We create safe spaces for discussion and ensure that every student feels respected and valued.

Our PSHCE and RSHE curriculum aims to:

• Deliver an engaging, age-appropriate programme that builds knowledge and life skills progressively.
• Provide a safe framework for sensitive discussions, enabling pupils to explore challenging topics with confidence.
• Prepare pupils for key life stages—puberty, adolescence and adulthood—with accurate information about health, wellbeing and relationships.
• Develop pupils’ ability to make sound decisions when facing risks, including online and offline challenges.
• Teach correct vocabulary and factual information about sexual and reproductive health, consent and bodily autonomy.
• Ensure pupils understand their rights over their own bodies, how to report concerns and how to seek advice.
• Offer opportunities to reflect on influences such as peers, media, culture and faith, while nurturing respect for different views.
• Promote gender equality and LGBTQ+ inclusion, in line with statutory guidance and The Rainbow Flag Award.
• Build resilience, self-efficacy and emotional wellbeing, including strategies for coping with grief, loss and change.
• Meet the needs of all learners, including those with SEND, through differentiated and inclusive provision.

Rationale

PSHCE lessons give every learner the tools to make informed choices, manage challenges and build healthy relationships in a world that is constantly changing. Our curriculum develops confidence, resilience and respect, helping pupils to thrive as individuals and as members of society.

We recognise that many of our learners have experienced disrupted education or negative relationships with adults. Some arrive with gaps in knowledge or low self-esteem, and others may struggle to focus despite high ability. Our first priority is to create a safe, trusting environment where pupils feel valued and ready to learn. This takes time, patience and a flexible approach that celebrates small successes and uses engaging, relevant content.

PSHCE provides structured opportunities to explore topics that matter — from mental health and wellbeing to consent, online safety and financial literacy. Lessons are interactive and practical, encouraging discussion, reflection and problem-solving. We teach pupils how to seek help, recognise risk and make decisions that protect their health and future.

Through this curriculum, we promote equality and inclusion, challenge discrimination and foster respect for diversity. Pupils learn to understand themselves and others, manage emotions and communicate effectively. These skills are essential not only for personal wellbeing but also for employability and active citizenship.

PSHCE plays a vital role in safeguarding. By addressing issues such as harmful online content, misogyny, exploitation and mental health, we help pupils stay safe and build resilience. Our approach reflects the latest statutory guidance and prepares learners for life beyond school — confident, informed and ready to contribute positively to modern Britain.

Citizenship

As part of our PSHCE programme, we deliver Citizenship lessons to ensure students leave school equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate fully in society. Citizenship education develops empathetic, informed and responsible individuals who understand their rights and responsibilities and can make positive contributions at local, national and global levels.

Our Citizenship curriculum aims to:

• Empower students to become active, informed and responsible citizens who can contribute to a fair, democratic and inclusive world.
• Develop critical thinking and the ability to form hypotheses, create reasoned arguments and reach substantiated conclusions.
• Understand the methods and approaches used by governments, organisations and individuals to address issues in society.
• Formulate citizenship enquiries, sequence research questions and analyse ideas, issues and debates.
• Present viewpoints clearly and respectfully, while evaluating different perspectives.
• Plan and carry out practical citizenship actions aimed at delivering a benefit or change for others in society.
• Critically evaluate the effectiveness of citizenship actions and their impact on individuals, groups and communities.
• Make connections between different aspects of citizenship, comparing similarities and differences in local, national and global contexts.

Rationale

Citizenship education gives pupils the knowledge, skills and understanding to become informed, active and responsible citizens who uphold British values and respect diversity. It encourages participation in democratic processes and helps students understand how society functions — from local communities to global contexts.

Our learners develop an understanding of political and social institutions, human rights and the law, and learn about their responsibilities as individuals and members of society. Through discussion, debate and enquiry-based learning, pupils explore complex issues such as democracy, justice, equality and sustainability. These experiences help them think critically, evaluate different viewpoints and communicate their ideas effectively.

Citizenship promotes confidence and analytical skills, enabling students to challenge injustice, advocate for positive change and engage meaningfully with civic life. Through this curriculum, we promote British values and cover key aspects of SMSC development, preparing students to live and work in modern Britain and to see themselves as global citizens. Our approach reflects the latest guidance and ensures that pupils leave school with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions, respect diversity and contribute positively to society.