“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.”  John 13:34.

 

PSHCE Curriculum Overview

Updated: 27/02/2024 149 KB


Vision   

PSHCE and RSE at Mount Carmel is aimed at giving young people the knowledge and attributes they need to manage their lives now and in the future. These skills and attributes help young people to stay healthy, safe, and prepare them for life and work in modern Britain.

We hope to provide our pupils with opportunities to:

  • Enable young people to become more resilient and improve their own self-esteem, risk management, team work and critical thinking.
  • Focus on the core elements of health and well-being, relationships and the wider world including preparation in relation to finance and careers.
  • Prepare young people to become active and responsible citizens.
  • Be aware of the importance of healthy relationships.
  • Allow young people to explore issues relating to drugs and relationships.
  • Ensure that the law on drugs and sex are clear throughout key topics.
  • Prepare young people for their own career ideas as they progress onto adulthood.
  • Ensure that the views of others are respected in line with British values.
  • Encounter employers and consider the skills and qualities needed in the workplace, in line with Gatsby benchmarks.
  • Ensure that young people make responsible decisions regarding drugs and relationships.
  • Promote citizenship education in line with guidelines on the teaching of issues such as the democracy, law and fundamental values in British society.
  • Be faithful to the Church's vision of human wholeness whilst recognising the contemporary context in which we live today.
  • Provide a positive view of human sexuality and dignity of the human person;
  • Equip young people with the ability to make practical judgments about the right thing to do in particular circumstances.
  • Explore and promote virtues which are essential to promoting respect and dignity.
  • Be delivered in an age appropriate way which reflects the development of the child. 
  • Be sensitive to the needs of the individual pupil and recognise the mix of pupils with different sexual orientations, genders and family backgrounds in each class.

Intent

Our PSHCE curriculum intends to build pupils’ confidence and resilience, as well as preparing pupils for their adult lives, teaching them to understand how to engage with society, make good decisions, and become effective citizens who flourish and contribute positively.

Our PSHCE curriculum directly develops and deepens pupils’ understanding of the fundamental British values of democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law and mutual respect and tolerance. In all topics, pupils are encouraged to understand that difference is positive and that individual characteristics make people unique.

Our PSHCE curriculum provides an inclusive environment which meets the needs of all pupils, through a detailed knowledge and understanding of the pupils we teach and close liaison with the pastoral team. The PSHCE topics, delivered by identified and specific specialist staff, facilitate the development of pupils’ character, encouraging them to reflect wisely, learn eagerly, behave with integrity and cooperate consistently well with others. All lessons end with communication of the relevant support available to them.

Our curriculum teaches pupils the importance of being physically healthy, eating healthily and maintaining an active lifestyle; pupils come to realise the effect of these things on their personal emotional and mental wellbeing.

Pupils also receive age-appropriate understanding of risk-taking behaviours, the difference between right and wrong, healthy relationships and sex education. They are encouraged to be reflective about their own beliefs (religious or otherwise) and perspective on life and to be aware of and have respect for, different people’s faiths, feelings and values.

As part of our “Living in the Wider World” topics, we deliver a comprehensive careers programme, encouraging pupils to aspire, make good choices and understand what they need to do to reach and succeed in their careers of choice. This is also reinforced by the schools’ CEIAG and Raising Aspirations Coordinator. Pupils also receive an insight in to salaries, the cost of living and how to manage their money. The link is made between their career of choice, the journey to getting there and their potential income.

The PSHCE/RSE curriculum at Mount Carmel extends far beyond the academic, technical and vocational. We support pupils to grow in many diverse aspects of life and we take our responsibility to develop the whole child, very seriously.

There is no formal assessment within PSHE, we will regularly ask pupils to self-assess their own knowledge against our aims of the curriculum.

Implementation    

Years 7 – 11 receive one hour a fortnight of PSHCE (Including RSE) delivered by specialist, selected teachers. All resources are provided via membership to the PSHE association and staff are encouraged to use those documents to support planning and implementation. Topics are split in to three themes and are pitched appropriately for the ages of the pupils it is targeting:

  • Physical health and mental wellbeing (PHMW)
  • Relationships and sex education (relationships)
  • Living in the wider world (wider world)
  • RSE (TenTen)

Whilst these topics appear to be discrete, it is commonly known that there is an overlap in most topics and so communication between staff when planning and reviewing, is imperative, particularly in terms of age appropriateness.

Throughout the academic year, pupils will receive assemblies/workshops which are delivered by external agencies and are targeted to address the specific needs of the pupils at that time.

The long-term impact of our PSHCE/RSE curriculum, is difficult to measure whilst pupils remain at school. However, we act upon all feedback received from staff/pupils/parents and carers to ensure the curriculum is engaging, fit for purpose and with the objectives being achieved.

Evaluation is a continual process and changes are made if, as and when necessary.

If parents would like to view the resources used for RSE in advance of the course being delivered or to complement their conversations at home, the details are below:

Online Parent Portal – Ten Ten Resources

Username mount-carmel-bb5
Password saints-555

 

Enrichment and/or extra-curricular activities    

  • HARV outside agency support
  • YNot Aspire
  • Guest speakers

Next steps (College, University, career)    

What can the subject prepare me for?

There is a range of skills that studying PSHCE can prepare our pupils for, some of which include:

  • A deeper understanding of British values
  • Life skills such as CV writing skills; interview skills; team work and communication etc.

Additional resources:

Policies/Documentation:

https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/curriculum-and-resources/curriculum (Useful to understand the DfE 2020 statutory changes)

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/805781/Relationships_Education__Relationships_and_Sex_Education__RSE__and_Health_Education.pdf (DfE PSHCE and RSE 2020 framework)

http://catholiceducation.org.uk/schools/relationship-sex-education (CES guidance for delivering and teaching PSHCE and RSE in Catholic schools)

General information:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/ztvg9j6 (BBC Bitesize links to PSHE and citizenship)

RSE:

https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/ TenTen Catholic resources – life to the full

Drugs, smoking and alcohol education:

https://www.talktofrank.com/?&gclid=CJehuJGM77MCFW_KtAodyVoAAw (Talk to Frank; drugs education)

http://www.drinkaware.co.uk  Alcohol awareness

http://smokefree.nhs.uk/ NHS smoke free

http://www.drugfreeworld.org/ drug free world

Prejudice and Discrimination:

http://www.tackling-racism.co.uk/ tackling racism

http://www.stonewall.org.uk/at_home/sexual_orientation_faqs/2697.asp Homophobia: stonewall

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z6brscw BBC challenging stereotypes

Safety/E-Safety:

https://www.getsafeonline.org/ Get Safe Online

http://www.trusted2know.co.uk/e-safety/ Trust Ed

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ Think u Know

https://www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/ Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service

https://www.think.gov.uk/ Think! Road Safety

http://www.brake.org.uk/ Brake Road Safety

Mental Health:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/a-z-mental-health/ Mind for better mental health

http://www.youngminds.org.uk/ Young Minds

http://www.b-eat.co.uk/ Beat

http://www.nshn.co.uk/downloads.html National Self-Harm Network

http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/ Anxiety UK

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/ NHS Mental Health Helplines

https://www.mytutor.co.uk/blog/teen-mental-health-a-guide-for-parents/ Teen Mental Health Guide for Parents

Finance and Careers:

https://barclayslifeskills.com/i-want-to-get-to-grips-with-money-and-my-payslip/school/ Barclays Life Skills

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/ National Careers Service

https://www.gov.uk/topic/further-education-skills/apprenticeships The National Apprenticeship Service

https://www.reed.co.uk/career-advice/school-leaver-cv-template/ CV writing

Bereavement Services:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/children-and-bereavement/ NHS child bereavement

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/coping-with-bereavement/ NHS dealing with grief