Intent

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) is an important and necessary part of all learners’ education. High quality, evidence-based and age-appropriate teaching of this subjects can help prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.  The teaching of PSHE also enables schools to promote the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of learners, at school and in society.  PSHE involves acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs, values and attitudes.  The aim of PSHE is to provide learners with the knowledge that will enable them to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships and to build their self-efficacy.  At Oastlers School we believe the understanding of such values is integral to supporting and developing positive attitudes towards each other and ensuring positive emotional well-being.  The curriculum offers core knowledge in a careful sequenced way through planned lessons.  Our intent is to support our learners in developing resilience to know how and when to ask for help, and to know where to access support and to embrace the challenges of creating a happy and successful adult life.  At Oastlers we feel it is central learners can also put this knowledge into practice as they develop the capacity to make sound decisions when facing risks, challenges and complex contexts.

Implementation

The school provides a safe learning environment to support learners in progressing academically, and most importantly emotionally.  The programme is split in to three main elements:

Health and Well-Being

• How to manage transition
• How to maintain physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing including sexual health
• About parenthood and the consequences of teenage pregnancy
• How to assess and manage risks to health and to stay, and keep others, safe
• How to identify and access help, advice and support
• How to make informed choices about health and wellbeing matters including drugs, alcohol and tobacco, maintaining a balanced diet, physical activity, emotional health and wellbeing and sexual health
• How to respond in an emergency including administering first aid
• The role and influence of the media on lifestyle and dealing with the pressure this has on young people

Relationships

• How to develop and maintain a variety of healthy relationships within a range of social/cultural contexts and to raise awareness of parenting skills
• How to recognise and manage emotions within a range of relationships
• How to deal with risky or negative relationships, including all forms of bullying and abuse, sexual and other violence also including online encounters
• About the concept of consent in a variety of contexts (including in sexual relationships)
• About managing loss, including bereavement, separation and divorce
• To respect equality and be a productive member of a diverse community
• How to identify and access appropriate advice and support.

Living in the Wider World

• About rights and responsibilities as members of diverse communities, as active citizens and participants in the local and national economy
• How to make informed choices and be enterprising and ambitious
• How to develop employability, team working and leadership skills and develop flexibility and resilience
• About the importance of having goals for the future
• How personal financial choices can affect oneself and others and about rights and responsibilities as consumers

At key stage 3, students build on the knowledge and understanding, skills, attributes and values they have acquired and developed during the primary phase. This curriculum acknowledges and addresses the changes that young people experience, beginning with transition to secondary school, the challenges of adolescence and their increasing independence. It provides learners with the knowledge and skills which will equip them for the opportunities and challenges of life. learn to manage diverse relationships, their online lives, and the increasing influence of peers and the media.

At key stage 4, learners deepen knowledge and understanding, extend and rehearse skills, and further explore attitudes, values and attributes acquired during key stage 3. The PSHE education offered at Oastlers reflects the fact learners are moving towards an independent role in adult life, taking on greater responsibility for themselves and others and we take pride in knowing we are preparing them for the next chapter of their lives.

Impact

The impact of the PSHE programme will be that all learners will the necessary skills and confidence to develop themselves as well as having a better understanding of the wider world and what is expected of them as British citizens. It will also provide learners with ample opportunities to explore and discuss sensitive topics relating to health and well-being and relationships, forming their own beliefs and values as well as being confident to challenge and prejudice and discrimination. The programme allows for learners to develop their communication skills and broaden their thinking, acquiring knowledge to support them in making informed decisions. It is designed to be inclusive of all learners. Through the program the learners are signposted to key adults and organisations they can go for further advice or help outside of school.