PSHE & RSHE
The Personal Development curriculum encompasses the following areas:
- Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)
- Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)
- Modern British Values (MBV)
- Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Education (SMSC)
- Citizenship
In line with the statutory requirements for PSHE and RSHE, The Ruth Gorse Academy has a robust and creative curriculum for delivering the broad range of themes and topics which form part of this requirement. Our overarching aim is to provide our young people with an understanding of their place in the world today, to help our students to develop a strong sense of self-worth and personal awareness and for students to be fully empowered when it comes to making choices and decisions both now and in the future. The lessons and assemblies reflect our intention to explore the issues in-depth, to reach students from a wide range of backgrounds and foster an atmosphere of inclusion, tolerance and acceptance.
The curriculum is broken down into three themes:
- ‘Health and Wellbeing’
- ‘Relationships’
- ‘Living in the Wider World’
From September 2021, the curriculum is delivered via the following model.
- Weekly PSHE/RSHE form time activities
- Five timetabled PSHE/RSHE days called ‘Empowerment Days’
- Weekly Forensic Reading lessons
- Weekly CIEAG (careers) form time activities
- Topical assemblies
- Extra Curricular Activities
Please click here to see a Year 7 to Year 11 curriculum overview.
Although this curriculum is thoroughly planned and mapped, there are opportunities for sessions in which we address emerging concerns or trends, and respond to the needs of our students and their communities.
Form time activities are intended to act as a vehicle through which learners engage in high quality discussions and debates linked to the PSHE curriculum, current affairs and topics current to the needs of the academy. Through these planned discussions, students are given the opportunity to develop their cultural capital, appreciation and understanding of the Modern British Values (including: British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs) and their ability to articulate ideas in a respectful, coherent and informed manner. The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our learners is at the heart of the planning and implementation of these activities in order to ensure learners are supported to become valuable and fully rounded members of the society, who treat others with respect and tolerance, regardless of background and leave school fully prepared for life in modern Britain.
Citizenship is embedded within our PSHE curriculum map, both at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. We recognise that a high-quality citizenship education helps to provide pupils with knowledge, skills and understanding to prepare them to play a full and active part in society. In particular, citizenship education should foster pupils’ keen awareness and understanding of democracy, government and how laws are made and upheld. We equip pupils with the skills and knowledge to explore political and social issues critically, to weigh evidence, debate and make reasoned arguments. We encourage students to consider their place in society as responsible citizens, manage their money well and make sound financial decisions. At KS4, students have the option to choose Citizenship as a discrete GCSE subject.
In addition to our Empowerment Days, our PSHE curriculum is interwoven within the delivery of other curriculum subjects and in our promotion of and engagement with Gorse Gets Healthy initiatives across the academy.
Parents and carers
As a parent or carer, it is likely you will already have talked to your child about (or had to support them with) many of the topics and issues covered in PSHE and RSHE education. You may also wish to supplement their in-school learning with further discussions of your own. Sometimes PSHE and RSHE education conversations with your child will arise incidentally, for example when you are watching television or films, or through news stories or events that happen within your family. In such cases we cannot always control the stimulus for the question or conversation, only how we manage it. Other times, you may wish to initiate a conversation about a topic you feel is important to approach.
The following two documents offer guidance for parents:
- Understanding Relationships, Sex and Health Education at your child’s secondary school: a guide for parents
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/907640/RSE_secondary_schools_guide_for_parents.pdf - Relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education: frequently asked questions
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education-faqs
Please note that parents/carers are able to withdraw their child, up and until three terms before the child turns 16, from any aspects of Sex Education other than those which are part of the science curriculum. Click here, to read our RSHE policy.
Pease get in touch via [email protected] if you would like to discuss this further.
To speak to someone at the academy about PSHE and RSHE, please contact your child’s Form Tutor via the student planner or contact Clare Murray, Assistant Principal via [email protected].
