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. This academic year PSHE is being taught through our Personal Development Curriculum during afternoon tutor times and dedicated focus days timetabled throughout the school year.

In the next half-term, students will receive Personal Development lessons focusing on the themes of Health and Well-being. Below is an outline of the topics each Year Group will be covering:

Year 7

• Puberty
• Personal hygiene and care routines
• Making choices about diet and exercise 
• Mental wellbeing and looking after your mental health 
• Emotions associated with grief 
• How to support others dealing with grief 
• Consent – healthy relationships and interactions, understanding and respecting boundaries

Year 8

• Puberty
• Body image and beliefs about beauty
• Mental wellbeing and looking after your mental health 
• Benefits of a healthy lifestyle
• Early interventions and getting help for mental health concerns
• Keeping safe in the community

Year 9

• Stress triggers and managing stress
• Exploring lifestyle traits 
• Mental health
• Managing a crisis
• Negative automatic thoughts and how to manage them 
• Consent – healthy relationships and interactions, understanding and respecting boundaries

Year 10

• Dealing with grief and loss
• Benefits of physical activity
• Concepts and laws regarding female genital mutilation (FGM)
• Body image and beliefs about beauty
• Mental wellbeing and looking after your mental health 
• Basic first aid

Year 11

• Coping with change
• Knowledge of self-examination for breast cancer, skin cancer and information regarding smear tests
• Managing stress
• The difference between anxiety and depression
• Coping strategies
• The need to talk (suicidal thoughts) 
• Support available (for those experiencing suicidal thoughts) 
• Finding and using health services
• Pregnancy and choices
• Drugs education

In lessons, students will have opportunities to ask questions and take part in discussions. Student workbooks have also been created to support student’s learning. Students are signposted (through the Pastoral Development Curriculum lessons and workbooks) towards age appropriate, additional support websites and apps that are suitable and relevant to the content covered.

It is important for students to reflect on what they have learnt during their lessons; there will be opportunities for them to do this verbally and in a written format during lesson times. We also hope that students will take the opportunity to share what they have learnt with their families.

Some lessons in the curriculum plan above will focus on more sensitive topics within PSHE. Having an open dialogue with parents about our curriculum and any issues that may arise is important to ensure that we meet the needs of all of our students. If there is any information we should be aware or any concerns you may have, please contact the student's Head of Year.

Mrs A Driver, Assistant Headteacher