PSHE
Our Personal, Social and Health Education is a compulsory part of the KS3 and 4 curriculum, supporting pupils’ Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural development. At KS4, we teach our pupils PSHRE which also includes Religious Education (see the Religious Education section of the website for further information on this). All pupils follow a specific PSHE programme, which concentrates on building skills to help them progress through their teenage years to adult life. The programme aims to educate pupils to think for themselves, with an acceptable set of personal qualities and values which promote equal opportunities and to develop pupil self-confidence so that they can take advantage of the opportunities available to them. We have worked in partnership with a wide range of outside agencies to support pupils learning such as West Midlands Fire Service, Loudmouth (sex and relationships performances and workshops), Umbrella Sexual Health, Natural High and Barclays Life Skills. For the time being, any such services from external providers will be done remotely.
The following three strands are taught through PSHE/ PSHRE lessons: Personal, Social and Health Education (Including Relationships and Sex Education), Careers Education, and Citizenship (the latter of which is also delivered through different curriculum areas).
Careers
The Careers Education and Guidance programme helps pupils to achieve the following broad aims:
- To Understand themselves and develop their capabilities
- To investigate careers and opportunities
- To implement their career plan
Visiting speakers, trips to education and work place settings, careers advisors, video and careers literature are used in the Careers Education programme to provide pupils with background information relating to further education and a wide range of jobs and training. We have a former Connexions advisor to work with Year 10 and 11 pupils. As in PSHE, we work with a number of outside agencies who support the work we do in lessons such as Aim Higher, Transformation Trust and Local Colleges such as Cadbury, Bourneville and Halesowen. In addition, guidance is given in completing CVs and personal statements via KUDOS, an online system that pupils can also access from home using a link on the Moodle section of our website. All Year 11 pupils receive help with how to prepare for an interview and take part in a ‘mock interview’ in school with our partners from Transformation Trust and Barclays Bank. We also hold a careers fayre every year to give students further guidance. (Again, until it is safe to do so, services from external agencies will be used remotely).
PSHRE
A wide variety of topics are covered, as detailed below, in PSHE and PSHRE lessons. We have also worked in partnership with a wide range of outside agencies to support pupils learning such as West Midlands Fire Service, Loudmouth (sex and relationships performances and workshops), Umbrella Sexual Health, Natural High and Barclays Life Skills.
PSHE & Citizenship
At the start of year 7, lessons are focused on topics and skills that will help pupils feel settled at school: understanding school rules, getting to know each other, time management and organisation. Girls also explore issues around friendship, building confidence and self-image, and questioning why bullying sometimes happens and what we can do about it. Citizenship is addressed by thinking about the girls’ place within their community. We also look at exam revision tips and stress management, healthy lifestyles and the changes of adolescence as well as other related topics.
In Year 8, pupils then develop their understanding of rights and responsibilities by looking at animal rights, prejudice, racism and bullying, and what makes a healthy lifestyle. They start exploring careers and financial education, as well as addressing issues such as drugs, alcohol, smoking & solvent abuse and relationships with their peers. In Year 9, pupils will learn about personal safety, through first aid skills, how to avoid unhealthy relationships, understanding what causes crime before investigating how our democracy works and developing their knowledge of careers further.
| Term | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
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Years 10 & 11
At KS4 students go on to deepen their understanding of some of the themes already studied, such as the dangers of alcohol and drugs, sex and relationships, LGBTQIA+ dealing with exam stress and personal finances, helping them to prepare for their future life outside school.
They also have lessons dedicated to completing applications for local sixth forms and colleges, and guidance with interview technique, and writing CVs and personal statements.
| Term | Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Autumn | | |
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