PSHE & Citizenship
PSHE and Citizenship form a vital part of the school’s contribution to the ‘Every Child Matter’s’ Agenda. This agenda aims to support the well-being and holistic development of every child.
Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
PSHE is a subject where we strive to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes students need to manage their lives, now and in the future. PSHE education helps students to stay healthy, safe and prepared for life and work.
Pupils are taught a variety of information from the topics of Relationships (RSE), Health and Living in the Wider World. It is a legal requirement that all secondary age children are taught Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSE). These subjects are designed to equip your child with knowledge to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships as well as preparing them for a successful adult life.
More information on RSE can be found by clicking the following link:
Parents now have a right to withdraw their children from RSE lessons and this will be respected. However, we hope that by working together to meet the needs of students, requests will be infrequent. Any such request should be made to the Headteacher.
Year 8 & 9 are now going to receive 2 timetabled lessons a fortnight and Year 7 will have 1 PSHE and 1 Character Education. Some areas are covered in other curriculum areas such as Science (as part of the National Curriculum) which covers topics such as ‘Humans’ – covering reproduction and puberty
All lessons are delivered by trained staff that remain up to date with current affairs surrounding these issues. Our aim is to deliver PSHE lessons in a healthy atmosphere where pupils can share experiences, ask questions and develop skills that are not necessarily expressed in other areas of the curriculum. Our PSHE programme enables pupils to make decisions based on correct information and ultimately reduce risk taking behaviour. We emphasise the importance of respect for one’s self and other people in the hope that pupils grow in to healthy, confident young adults who value stable and loving relationships.
We enhance the programme using outside specialists to run sessions in order to further enhance the pupils’ knowledge of certain topics such as bullying, sexual harassment, alcohol, drugs and the law.
Citizenship through PSHE
Citizenship is a fundamental part of every aspect of the curriculum however specific citizenship lessons are covered through the PSHE timetable. These are focused on the broad topic of Human Rights and allow discussion on subjects such as racism, democracy, poverty, slavery, justice and being a citizen. This ensures that pupils are developing their research and communication skills as well as learning how to contribute positively to society on a local and global scale.
Citizenship at GCSE
Citizenship studies is now a GCSE option (GCSE AQA specification 8100) which investigates how the citizen is enabled by society to play a full and active part, and how citizens are empowered to effect change within society. Citizenship understanding develops through the knowledge of how a society operates, functions and its underlying values.
The subject content for GCSE Citizenship is divided into three core teaching themes:
- Life in Modern Britain
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Politics and Participation
The GCSE is assessed by 2 written exam papers.
Our GCSE in Citizenship Studies introduces students to key citizenship issues and helps them develop a practical understanding of what it means to be a citizen today. They acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to think critically and play a positive role in public life.
Related Careers
- Lawyer.
- Community Worker.
- Economist.
- Police Officer.
- Equality and Diversity Officer.
- Solicitor.
- Police Community Support Officer.
- Local Government Administrator.
Further information can be found on the AQA website by following this link www.aqa.org.uk
