PSHE & RSHE
Rationale
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (P.S.H.E) & Relationship, Sex & Health Education (R.S.H.E)
Intent
At Underwood West Academy, we teach PSHE and RSHE as subjects through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives and thrive, both now and in the future. Our children are growing up in a complex and ever-changing world and are exposed to an increasing range of influences. As a school, we aim to build on and complement the learning that is already taking place at home, to provide vital knowledge, understanding and skills that are needed to lead a healthy, fulfilling and meaningful life. It is an integral part of our school ethos and is woven in to all that we do in order to prepare our children for the future, underpinning all aspects of our curriculum. These skills and attributes will help our children to stay healthy, safe and prepare them for life and work in modern Britain. The values and skills taught, both through daily classroom discussions, as well as the dedicated weekly PSHE lessons, aim to help our children to achieve their academic potential and encourage our children to develop responsibility in their home life, as members of the community and also of the wider world, and leave our school equipped with skills that will guide them and help them to flourish in later life.
Implementation
Every child in our school takes part in a dedicated weekly PSHE lesson. This is taught using a whole school scheme of learning accredited by the PSHE Association, where children engage in active and participatory activities, concentrating on 8 key strands:
- Mental Health and Emotional Well-being
- Keeping Safe and Managing Risks
- E-Safety
- Identity, Society and Equality
- Physical Health and Well-being
- Careers, Financial Capability and Economic Well-being
- Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Education
- Relationship, Sex & Health Education (parents/carers can opt out their child from the sex education element)
Since September 2020, Relationship & Health Education (RHE) has become compulsory in Primary schools and Relationship, Sex & Health Education (RSHE) compulsory in Secondary schools.The DfE have committed to retain parents’ rights to withdraw their child from Sex Education within RSHE (other than Sex Education in the National Curriculum as part of science), but not from Relationships Education at Primary. The Relationship Core theme also crosses over into PSHE (Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education) through the areas of Health & Wellbeing (including Mental Health) and Living in the Wider World (including Diversity, Stereotyping, Discrimination).
In addition to our weekly PSHE lessons, we are dedicated as a school to providing daily opportunities for our children to discuss and take part in activities that help them to grow and develop personally and socially. 'My Happy Mind' is a Science-backed programme that helps to nurture positive mental wellbeing and continues the work of preparing our children for the future, building resilient, balanced and happy minds. The programme is structured into five modules: Meet Your Brain, Celebrate, Appreciate, Relate and Engage. The lessons are taught at the start of each week, allowing the discussed concepts to be reiterated and reflected upon throughout the teaching week.
In addition to this, we proudly promote the 'No Outsiders' ethos within our school, 'All different, all welcome'. Weekly assemblies celebrate our differences, prepare our chidren for life as a global citizen and promote cohesion within our community.
Impact
In PSHE, our children are assessed through their knowledge and understanding, and also by how they use that knowledge in developing skills and attitudes. This is shown through their participation in class discussions, group tasks and activities and through their management of any conflicts. Children learn how to become valued citizens with a broad understanding of the world around them and leave Underwood West Academy ready to embrace the secondary PSHE and RSHE curriculum.
