Overview
PSHEE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) is a highly valued subject at St. Marylebone C.E School. The subject’s ethos, in line with the school’s overall philosophy, is to enable students to explore a broad range of issues in an age-appropriate, informative and reflective manner in order to prepare them for adult life as confident young people and critical thinkers who are able to make considered and informed decisions; lead healthy and happy lives; and contribute in an active and positive way to society.
Pupils are, for the most part, taught PSHEE in form groups and lessons are delivered by the form tutor. This implementation ensures that pupils feel comfortable to discuss sensitive topics, and tutors are available to provide any additional support needed. The PSHEE curriculum is also supported by some drop-down days throughout the year and some topics are taught within other subjects by specialists, for example Puberty is taught within both the PSHE and Science curriculum, Internet Safety in Computing, Healthy Eating in Food Technology and concepts such as tolerance within REP. On a small handful of occasions, carefully selected external agencies (e.g. Daniel Spargo Mabbs Foundation, LAWRS) are invited into school to support St. Marylebone teaching staff with the delivery of PSHEE. PSHE is also embedded in a whole-school approach through assemblies, themes of the week and national events such as Healthy Eating Week and Anti-Bullying events.
The PSHE department works closely with the Pastoral Team which enables us to ensure the curriculum is flexible and adaptable to the needs of each individual cohort. This personalised approach allows your child to explore age-appropriate issues at the most pertinent time and is a real strength of our provision. This also ensures that vulnerable children, and students with SEND are fully supported.
In September 2020 RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) was made statutory. This is taught within the PSHE curriculum, although some topics are also delivered in other subjects e.g. the Key Stage Four Science curriculum. More information about Relationships and Sex Education can be found in the policy document.
PSHE lessons are broadly organised into three main topics:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Relationships and Sex Education
- Living in the Wider World
Due to the nature of the subject, many lessons will encompass all of these areas. For example a session on Internet Safety whilst classified under ‘Living in the Wider World’ will naturally also include learning about relationships and wellbeing.
Our current curriculum plan is below. However, due to the ever changing nature of the subject and our commitment to a flexible curriculum this is an adaptable programme. Many topics are revisited but to a greater depth and within a different context as your child makes their way through the school.
Key Stage 3-4. Years 7-11
Year Group |
Health and Wellbeing |
Sex and Relationships |
Living in the Wider World |
7 |
Puberty – physical and emotional changes. Hygiene. Caffeine. FGM. Mental Health. Promoting emotional wellbeing and resilience. Social Media and Mental Health. First Aid. |
Healthy Relationship. Friendship Issues. Cyber-bullying. |
Careers. Study Skills. Social Enterprise. |
8 |
Smoking and Vaping. Alcohol. Drugs. Healthy strategies to support mental health. Mindfulness. Sleep. Body Image. |
Social Intelligence. Stereotypes. Conflict Resolution. Families and Relationships. |
Study Skills. Online Safety including Selfies, Safe Online Relationships, Gambling and Gaming. |
9 |
Drugs. Alcohol. Sexual Anatomy. Menstruation and Fertility. Mental illness. Strategies for managing mental health. Seeking appropriate support. |
Consent. Unhealthy Relationships. Sharing Sexual Images. Pregnancy. Porn and Sex in the Media. Contraception. Child Sexual Exploitation. |
Year 9 Award. Careers. GCSE Options support. Social issues e.g. Pride, Unconscious Bias. |
10 |
Drugs. Alcohol. What is Health? How to take care of our health. |
Consent. Sexual Harassment. Healthy Relationships. Domestic violence. Contraception. Abortion, |
Work experience. Study skills. |
11 |
Drugs, Managing Wellbeing |
STIs, Consent |
Study skills. Post-16 support, Careers, Preparing for Exams. Financial literacy. |
Health and Wellbeing |
Sex and Relationships |
Living in the Wider World / Study Skills |
|
12 |
Healthy habits. Alcohol and drugs. Mindfulness. Stress and coping strategies. |
Friendships, resilience and language. Transition to Key Stage 5. Consent. Sexual Harassment. STIs and Contraception. |
Done through weekly passport sessions which look at goal setting, study skills, revision techniques, organisation support. Work experience. Achieving a work life balance. Careers advice. |
13 |
Healthy habits (sleep, exercise and diet). Managing exam stress. |
Conflict resolution. Healthy relationships. Consent. |
UCAS and Future Pathways. Independent living. Managing Finance. Revision. Study skills. |