PSHCE

PSHCE: Purpose

PSHCE stands for Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education.  

At The Duchess’s Community High School PSHCE is a planned, developmental programme of learning through which our students acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to make informed choices now, and in the future. We seek to help students to build their confidence, resilience and self esteem in order to build healthy relationships and achieve success.

KS3/KS4 Scheme of Learning (SOL) Overview

Studying PSHCE helps our pupils become well-rounded citizens with important knowledge of the wider world that will help them stay healthy, safe and prepare them for adult life and work in modern Britain. 

At key stage 3, students build on the knowledge and understanding, skills, attributes and values they have acquired and developed during the primary phase. PSHCE education acknowledges and addresses the changes that young people experience, beginning with transition to secondary school, the challenges of adolescence and their increasing independence. It teaches the knowledge and skills which will equip them for the opportunities and challenges of life. Students learn to manage diverse relationships, their online lives, and the increasing influence of peers and the media. 

At key stage 4, students deepen knowledge and understanding, extend and rehearse skills, and further explore attitudes, values and attributes acquired during key stage 3. PSHCE education reflects the fact that students are moving towards an independent role in adult life, taking on greater responsibility for themselves and others. 

Students will be taught one timetabled  PSHCE lesson per fortnight in year 7-13. These important themes will also be taught in tutor times and during assemblies. We work on a spiral curriculum so similar main themes will be covered, however the exact content and resources that are used to teach them will be age appropriate. Despite the topics looking similar in the SOL, the resources and delivery will be new each year.  This forms part of students’ personal development which encompasses their PSHCE education, alongside all the fantastic extra-curricular activities that are on offer at DCHS, tutor time and assemblies. Students will have the opportunity to develop their sense of character.

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 4

KS5 Scheme of Learning (SOL)

By the end of key stage 5, many young people will leave home for the first time and live independently, possibly in distant locations. There is a balance throughout our PSHCE curriculum programme between preparing students to manage their current lives and laying the foundations for managing future experiences. As students progress through the key stages, this balance shifts towards teaching related to young people’s current experiences. 

Key Stage 5

Sex and Relationships Education

All students will receive Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) in line with the government guidance. More detailed information about what is covered and at what age can be found in the overviews above for each year group.  This will be delivered by the pupils' PSHCE teacher alongside additional sessions delivered by Hanah Moeini, an experienced practitioner during their timetabled PSHCE lessons. The aim of these sessions is to give our students the knowledge and skills to make informed and healthy choices; to build their confidence and skills when dealing with situations they may encounter; helping them to stay safe and know where and how to ask for help if needed.

The government has recently released new statutory guidance which can be found here. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

We are working on updating the relationship and sex education curriculum this year and will be fully compliant with this guidance ready for teaching by 1st September 2026. 

We will be inviting parents into school to answer any questions they may have about the current and new RSE curriculum. Parents are also welcome to contact the PSHCE co-ordinator by email with any questions they may have. 

Webite Resources

Drug and Alcohol

Emotional Health & Wellbeing

Financial

RSE

Online Safety

Who to Contact?

PSHCE Coordinator- Joanne Patten (j.patten@dchs.uk)

Senior Leadership Team Links 

Personal Development- Jaquie Steel (j.steel@dchs.uk)

Careers- Martin Allenby (m.allenby@dchs.uk)