PSHE Programme
Personal, Social, Health & Economics education
Personal, Social, Health & Economic (PSHE) education aims to help improve the ways in which students learn, relate to others, grow socially, choose healthy lifestyles and become independent citizens playing a positive part in society.
The curriculum is delivered as part of our tutorial program by tutors in tutor time. Our PSHE curriculum is based on content from Jigsaw PSHE. The curriculum spirals year on year to build upon previous knowledge and delivers age-appropriate support and guidance on the key topics each year. Students work each academic year in the following breakdown:
- Term 1 ‘Being Me in My World’,
- Term 2 ‘Celebrating Difference’
- Term 3 ‘Dreams and Goals'
- Term 4 ‘Healthy Me’
- Term 5 ‘Relationships’
- Term 6 ‘Changing Me’
Pupils complete a termly PSHE booklet which they are invited to take home at the end of the term. Over the five years, this provides a wealth of knowledge for pupils to keep and sources of external support they can access when needed.
Other areas of the taught curriculum, such as Food and Nutrition, Business Studies, Science, PE, and year group assemblies, support the modules covered. We regularly invite expert external speakers to deliver specialist training and workshops with students in a range of areas, including drug education, relationships, mental health and careers advice.
Our PSHE programme also ensures that our students receive appropriate Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) and that the statutory provision requirements are met. This work all combines to help students develop during their time at Fitzharrys so that they can make well-informed life choices both now and in the future as adults.
The aim of the school’s Relationship, Health and Sex Education programme is to:
- 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
- Help students develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy
- Create a positive culture around issues of sexuality and relationships, whilst preparing pupils for how to deal with negative relationship experiences
- Teach students correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies
Various aspects of sex education such as physical development, the biology of reproduction, contraception and sexually transmitted infections, are covered in the curriculum, notably within Science and PSHE. In addition, Year 9 students spend a day participating in a series of expert-led workshops in our successful Sexual Health Education Carousel. This includes a focus on the topics of contraception, relationships, sexually transmitted infections, parenting and personal safety.
The school is aware that its role complements and supports the role of parents, and our aim is to create an atmosphere in which responsible attitudes to all relationships are expected and encouraged.
Read our PSHE Curriculum Summary for more more details, and find our school’s governor-approved policy on sex education as well as our PSHE and RSHE policies on our Policies page.
