Personal Social Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE)
PSHCE 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. PSHCE will develop the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society.
Our curriculum will equip pupils to live healthy, safe, productive, capable, reasonable and balanced lives. It encourages them to be enterprising and supports them in making effective transitions, positive learning and career choices and in achieving economic wellbeing. A critical component of PSHCE education is providing opportunities for children and young people to deflect on and clarify on their own values and attitudes ands explore the complex and sometimes conflicting range of values and attitudes they encounter now and in the future.
Our programme of study covers Key Stages to 4, and is based on three core themes: Health and wellbeing, Relationships, and Living in the Wider World.
SMSC and British Values
Our core purpose is to inspire learners to embrace learning in all of its forms and to use their educational experience to make a real difference to their own lives and the lives of others.
Our ambition is to support and inspire all our learners to be confident, respectful, reflective, creative, selfless, leaders, resilient, collaborative, inquisitive and aspirational. As part of our values led approach, we actively promote the values of:
- Democracy
- The Rule of Law
- Individual Liberty
- Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs
This promotes equality in our school, as we believe a lived understanding of these and other values will contribute to all our students success in life now and in the future.
SMSC and British Values are consciously developed through the culture and ethos of Beckfoot Thornton, through the content of our core curriculum where understanding of values are explored in wide ranging ways and this is mapped in detail across the whole school. We believe that education can inspire and develop positive attitudes to others.
Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)
RSE forms a key part of students curriculum experience and personal development education. Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know the key building blocks of healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships in all contexts, including online. This will sit alongside the essential understanding of how to be healthy, both physically and mentally, including risk areas such as drugs and alcohol, as well as introducing knowledge about intimate relationships and sex. These subjects represent a huge opportunity to help our children and young people develop. The knowledge and attributes gained will support their own and others’, wellbeing and attainment and help young people to become successful and happy adults who make meaningful contributions to society.
Teaching of RSE will always be age appropriate and will respect the diversity of families and faith in our community, RSE is not about the promotion of sexual activity.
Aims of RSE
- Enable students to learn about what makes healthy relationships, including with family, friends and online, how to recognise unhealthy behaviours in relationships and how to seek help if they feel unsafe
- Support students to develop self-respect, confidence and empathy
- Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place
- Prepare students for puberty and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene
- Teach students the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies
Delivery of RSE
RSE will be inclusive for all pupils, sensitive to all family and faith backgrounds and pupils’ own identities. It will be respectful of all protected characteristics under the equality Act 2010. Protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity. The school environment reflects, values and celebrates the diversity of our community. Across all Key Stages, students will be supported to develop the following skills:
- Communication skills
- Forming positive relationships including self respect as well as respect and empathy for others
- Recognising and assessing potential risks
- Assertiveness and managing conflict and difficult emotions
Skills and knowledge will be taught in an age-appropriate way. Teaching methods are a combination of sharing information, facilitating discussions and exploring issues and values. Lessons will be delivered either by teaching staff within lessons or assemblies, by form tutors through a PHSCE programme or by expert outside agencies via drop down days or smaller group sessions.
