PSHE

Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) supports pupils to develop knowledge, skills and attributes needed to stay healthy, safe and prepared for life and work in the modern world. PSHE education helps pupils to achieve their academic potential, and equips them with skills they need in the future.

Core themes;

  • Health & wellbeing
  • Relationships
  • Living in the wider world

We define Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education to support pupils to develop knowledge, skills and attributes needed to stay healthy, safe and prepare them for life and work in the modern world. PSHE education helps pupils to achieve their academic potential and equips them with skills they will need in the future. We consider ‘Health and Wellbeing’ to include physical, sexual and mental health. 

We define ‘relationships and sex education’ as the knowledge, skills and behaviours that enable pupils to have the confidence to be themselves, to respect others and to develop successful relationships both now and in their future lives.

The aims are:

  • to enable our students to better understand the nature of relationships
  • to help students develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy
  • to create a positive culture around issues of sexuality and relationships
  • to enable students to understand the importance of stable loving relationships, including marriage, for the bringing up of children 
  • to prepare students for the changes that occur to their bodies, minds and emotions as a consequence of growth from childhood to adulthood
  • to know about the risks of being online and how to stay safe from exploitation 
  • to support all young people for life in modern Britain.

At Bede’s we are mindful of the significance of the role of the Trust, in the personal and social development of our pupils. PSHE is central to our core values and safeguarding.

Statutory Requirements

As a trust we must have regard to:

  • The Relationships, Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (England) Regulations 2019, made under sections 34 and 35 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017 from 1 September 2020. 
  • The Equality Act 2010 and The Equality Act 2010: Advice for Schools.


How is PSHE delivered to pupils and by whom?

In the Trust, PSHE and RSE is led by:

  • Prep School - Deputy Head Pastoral
  • Senior School - Head of PSHE, Assistant Head - Pupil Wellbeing and Head of Inquiry Learning Faculty

This policy was produced by the above through consultation and input from staff, parents and pupils. It is reviewed annually and signed off by the Executive Committee. The PSHE and RSE provision is developed through consultation with all stakeholders, and invites feedback from teaching staff, parents and pupils to inform and improve our practice. 

In the Prep School PSHE and RSE is taught by form tutors once per week.  Years 3-8 receive specialist input from guest speakers through drop down days scheduled in the academic year.  All staff delivering PSHE and RSE receive tailored CPD to support their subject knowledge.  Pupils knowledge on political and social issues are further enhanced through the delivery of the Votes For Schools programme, whereby pupils are encouraged to discuss and debate topical issues as part of their weekly programme.

In the Senior School, PSHE and RSE is taught by designated teaching staff/tutors, based on levels of confidence, and is taught once a week. 

PSHE is also delivered across various areas of the school including tutor time, in department lessons, assemblies, workshops, chapel, in the School Medical Centre and sign-posting to online resources. It is supported by a planned, structured curriculum which is differentiated by year group. 

Across the Trust, teaching staff will receive PSHE and RSE training via the staff hub and through the Professional Development program, in order to fully support pupils with PSHE. PSHE will be monitored and evaluated by the Prep School Deputy Head Pastoral, Senior School Head of PSHE through consultation with the Headmaster and governors.

Consultation with Parents

The Trust believes in the importance of partnership and collaboration between home and school, therefore we encourage families to discuss relationships and sex education with their children at home. This is an opportunity to share family values in relation to PSHE and RSE topics, building important channels of communication about emotions, the human body and relationships with young people, both now and in the future. 

As a Trust we consult parents by:

  • sharing a draft copy of the PSHE and RSE policy* via our school website
  • inviting parents to share their thoughts and feedback on the policy
  • following the consultation period, a published copy of the policy is shared via our school website and parent portal
  • sharing Trust wide PSHE and RSE curriculum documentation* and examples of resources on our school website
  • inviting parents to attend an annual information evening held at both the Prep and Senior School
  • updating parents/guardians via the Newsletter on any PSHE related events
  • share our questions on how to ‘Continue Conversations at Home’ via reports to parents, and on the PSHE curriculum on the school website.

  • inviting parents to be part of the Prep PSHE and RSE steering group.

*Hard copies of the policy and curriculum documentation are available on request. 

Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education complement several national curriculum subjects. As a Trust, we look for opportunities to draw links between the subjects and integrate teaching where appropriate. There continues to be no right of withdrawal from any part of the national curriculum.

RSE and PSHE Policy (Trust including EYFS)

Please view our policy here.

Parental Right to withdraw their child from RSE

Under the Department of Education’s Statutory guidance on RSE, parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE. If parents request that a pupil is wholly or partly excused from sex education provided as part of RSE, the pupil is so excused until the request is withdrawn, unless or to the extent that the headteacher considers that the pupil should not be so excused. Parents who wish to withdraw their child from some or all of RSE lessons should refer to and complete Appendix 2.

Requests for withdrawal should be put in writing using the form found in Appendix 2 of this policy and addressed to the Headmaster. A copy of withdrawal requests will be kept on record. The Headmaster will discuss the request with parents and take appropriate action. When the Headmaster receives such a letter, he will invite the parents/carers to a meeting, at which he will explain clearly what the Trust’s policy is and seek to accommodate the wishes and/or concerns of the parents/carers. If that is not possible, the pupil will be withdrawn from RSE and placed in another class where suitable work and supervision will be provided.

PSHE/RSE Resources

PSHE is designed to keep children and young people safe, healthy and prepared for life, and work, in modern Britain. The best PSHE education is a partnership between parents/carers and schools — and this includes transparency regarding curriculum content and materials.

We are happy to grant full access to the resource contents, but appreciate your adherence to the following requirements regarding intellectual property rights given the resource is otherwise only accessible to schools and individuals that subscribe to membership of organisations such as the PSHE Association. These resources are protected by copyright laws of resource providers. We therefore invite parents/carers who would/ would like to view our PSHE/RSE resources to contact the Head of PSHE.
 

PSHE Calendar

27 Jan Holocaust Memorial Day
Feb LGBT+ History Month
3-7 Feb Interfaith Harmony Week
10-16 Feb National Apprenticeship Week
11 Feb Safer Internet Day
3-8 Mar National Careers Week
8 Mar International Women's Day 2024
17-23 Mar Neurodiversity Celebration Week
20 Mar International Day of Happiness

Trust PSHE Curriculum Overview

PSHE Parent Information Session