PSHE

PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a vital part of our curriculum at St. Mary's. It helps children develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, now and in the future.

Our PSHE curriculum supports children’s wellbeing and personal development, helping them to thrive both in and out of the classroom. Through PSHE, pupils learn to stay safe, build healthy relationships, understand the world around them, and prepare for the challenges and responsibilities of later life.

While PSHE is a non-statutory subject, all schools are expected to teach it. At St. Mary's, we follow the Department for Education’s statutory guidance for Relationships Education, Health Education, and Citizenship, and draw on best practice from the PSHE Association Programme of Study, which is widely used across the UK.

RHE

From September 2020, Relationships Education and Health Education (RHE) became compulsory in all primary schools in England. This includes teaching about:

• Families and people who care for me

• Caring friendships

• Respectful relationships

• Online relationships

• Being safe

• Mental wellbeing

• Physical health and fitness

• Healthy eating

• Drugs, alcohol and tobacco

• Health and prevention

• Basic first aid

• Changing adolescent body (puberty)

Our Relationship and Health Education (RHE) teaching is set within a moral framework and aims to inform and prepare the pupils of St. Mary’s for life in the world in which they live. As a school, we recognise that parents have the prime responsibility in teaching their children how to build healthy loving relationships and we play a vital role in supporting parents. The content of our RHE curriculum reflects the teaching of the Church and is delivered to suit the age and stage of the young people in our school community. RHE encompasses many aspects of learning related to physical, moral and emotional development and supports children in their understanding of many types of relationships including marriage. The curriculum is based upon the God-given dignity of each and every pupil and through an understanding of the virtue, teaches our children how to make healthy choices which will benefit them for their entire lives.  It will prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

We aim to ensure our children understand and appreciate

   

• that every person that they encounter is “made in the image and likeness of God”

• that everyone is welcomed, accepted as they are, supported and loved

• the whole of creation as a sign of God’s love

• the importance of respect for their own bodies

• the importance of mutually respectful and positive relationships within our lives, particularly friendship

• the importance of family life

• the importance of their own positive self-esteem and well-being.

RHE is also about the teaching of sex, sexuality, and sexual health. Children are supported in understanding their own physical development and the importance of health and hygiene. We teach our children the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies and we aim to empower our children to be well informed and confident in the knowledge they have.

This will be achieved by

• providing a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place

• fostering an environment where children can ask questions

• creating a positive culture around issues of sexuality and relationships

• helping children develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy.

 

	PSHE and RSE Progression of Skills	[pdf 126KB]
	RHE Policy	[pdf 448KB]