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 children 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 PSHCE lessons in key stage 3 (year 7, 8 & 9) in Food, Health and Wellbeing lessons. In key stage 4 (year 10 & 11) students will be taught in PSHCE lessons. These themes will also be taught in tutor times and during assemblies. We work on a spiral curriculum so the same 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

YEAR 7 (18 single lessons)

1 - Healthy Lifestyles

Healthy eating, tooth decay, alcohol, smoking, exercise, sleep, energy, mental health, personal hygiene, basic first aid.

Nutrition covered in Food.

Guest Speakers Planned: Alnwick Gardens - drugs.

National Events - Mental Health Week.

2 - Healthy Relationships

Respect, kindness, qualities of good and bad friendships, peer pressure.

National Events - Anti-Bullying Week.

Sex Ed

Consent, law, puberty, changes, periods, changing, relationships, acceptable behaviours, relationship types (LGBT+).

Religion covered in RE.

3. British Values/Equality

All protected characteristics, LGBT+, racism, sexism (inc sexual harassment), disability, law. Sources of support.

National Events - Equality Week, Refugee Week, LGBT Pride Month June 2023.

Money Matters

The Money Charity session.

Guest Speakers Planned: The Money Charity.

Online safety

covered in IT

National Events - Safer Internet Day.

YEAR 8 (9 double lessons)

1 - Healthy Lifestyles

Diet, alcohol, smoking, exercise, mental health, sleep, immunisations, first aid.

Careers - Careers week, Dreaming Big, Be inspired

National Events - Mental Health Week, Restart a Heart, Children’s Mental Health Week, BNF Healthy Eating Week.

2 - Healthy Relationships

Types, qualities of good and bad relationships, how to be a supportive friend, friendship groups, child on child abuse, relationship behaviours. Attraction vs love. Signposting. 

National Events - Anti-Bullying Week.

Sex Ed

Consent, law, expectations, orgasms, pressure, parenting, safe sex, STI’s. This will be supplemented with 2 sessions with an external RSE specialist.

Body Image - Self esteem, self image, related illness, social media, role models. 

3. British Values/Equality

All protected characteristics, LGBT+, racism, sexism (inc sexual harassment), disability, law. Sources of support.Celebrating diversity.

National Events - Equality Week, Refugee Week, LGBT Pride Month June 2023.

Money Matters

Weekly food shop and bills, what are food banks? Why are they needed? 

Online safety

covered in IT

National Events - Safer Internet Day

Guest Speakers Planned: Malicious Communication’  delivered by Northumbria Police 

Community/Contribution to society

Food banks session.

Teenagers

Puberty, Mental health focus

YEAR 9 (9 double lessons)

1 - Healthy Lifestyles

Mental health, diet, smoking, alcohol, drugs, legal highs, county lines. First aid.

Careers - Careers week, Your skills, your team, your future.

National Events - Mental Health Week, Restart a Heart, Children’s Mental Health Week, BNF Healthy Eating Week.

2 - Healthy Relationships

Types, healthy relationships, negative relationships, consent, grooming, peer pressure, child  on child abuse, harassment. Signposting. 

National Events - Anti-Bullying Week.

Sex Ed

Consent, control, influences, stereotypes, contraception, STI’s, health services, support, laws. This will be supplemented with 2 sessions with an external RSE specialist.

Body Image - Social media, online stress, body image. Ways of dealing with issues, signposting support.

3. British Values/Equality

All protected characteristics, LGBT+, racism, sexism (inc sexual harassment), disability, law. Sources of support.

National Events - Equality Week, Refugee Week, LGBT Pride Month June 2023.

Guest Speakers Planned: One hour Knife Crime Prevention workshop delivered by Northumbria Police

Money Matters

Covered in maths.

Online safety

covered in IT

National Events - Safer Internet Day

Community/Contribution to society

'Together for Tea' Event.

H&SC/Childcare Taster

Life stages and play

Key Stage 4

YEAR 10 (18, 1 hour lessons)

1. British Values/Equality

Pupils will learn what protected characteristics are and the laws surrounding them including hate crimes. Equality Act, homophobia, racism, sexism (inc sexual harassment), stereotypes, extremism.

Relevant events in school include Black History Month, Equality Week, Pride Week as well as assemblies on ‘Sexual Harassment’, ‘Refugee Week’ and ‘International Women’s Day’.

2. Healthy Lifestyles

Mental health-types, diet, drugs/alcohol/ smoking/ addiction and law, county lines, hygiene, self examination, sleep. First aid.

Links to religious views will be taught.

Relevant assemblies include ‘Stoptober’, ‘Restart a Heart’ and ‘Healthy Eating Week’.

3. Careers - Unifrog.

Pupils will all have their own individual log in and will complete tasks using  unifrog.

Skills Development- Teamwork & Communication. How to write Covering Letters & CVs 

Links in with careers week/form time careers activities.

4. Healthy Relationships

What safe relationships look like, exploitation, child on child abuse, support, parenting, FGM and marriage

Links to religious views will be taught.

Relevant assemblies include ‘Sexual Harassment’, ‘Online Safety’.

5.Relationship and Sex Education 

Pupils will be taught Relationship education by their Guidance teacher. This will be supplemented with 2 sessions with an external RSE specialist.

Enjoyment, exploitation, pressure, porn, online safety, stereotyping, contraception, STI’s, impact of drugs and alcohol, confidentiality, services, choices, laws.

6. Money Matters

Pupils will complete an online unit of learning on Nebula learning called money matters. This will help them to learn about financing. Bank accounts, savings.

7. Online safety

Using the internet safely, online chat rooms, cyber bullying. 

Covered in form time. Plus assemblies on ‘Malicious Communication’ and ‘Safer Internet Day’.

8.Parliament

Pupils will take part in a  mock parliament debate. 

YEAR 11 (14, 1 hour lessons)

1. British Values/Equality

Pupils will learn what protected characteristics are and the laws surrounding them including hate crimes. Equality Act, homophobia, racism, sexism (inc sexual harassment), stereotypes, extremism.

Relevant events in school include Black History Month, Equality Week, Pride Week as well as assemblies on ‘Sexual Harassment’, ‘Refugee Week’ and ‘International Women’s Day’.

2. Healthy Lifestyles

Mental health-types, diet, drugs/alcohol/ smoking/ addiction and law, county lines, hygiene, self examination, sleep. First aid.

Links to religious views will be taught.

Relevant assemblies include ‘Stoptober’, ‘Restart a Heart’ and ‘Healthy Eating Week’.

3. Careers - Unifrog.

Pupils will all have their own individual log in and will complete tasks using  unifrog.

Skills Development- Teamwork & Communication. How to write Covering Letters & CVs 

Links in with careers week/form time careers activities.

4. Healthy Relationships

What safe relationships look like, exploitation, child on child abuse, support, parenting, FGM and marriage

Links to religious views will be taught.

Relevant assemblies include ‘Sexual Harassment’, ‘Online Safety’.

5.Relationship and Sex Education 

Pupils will be taught Relationship education by their Guidance teacher. This will be supplemented with 2 sessions with an external RSE specialist.

Enjoyment, exploitation, pressure, porn, online safety, stereotyping, contraception, STI’s, impact of drugs and alcohol, confidentiality, services, choices, laws.

6. Money Matters

Pupils will complete an online unit of learning on Nebula learning called money matters. This will help them to learn about financing. Bank accounts, savings.

7. Online safety

Using the internet safely, online chat rooms, cyber bullying. 

Covered in form time. Plus assemblies on ‘Malicious Communication’ and ‘Safer Internet Day’.

8.Parliament

Pupils will take part in a  mock parliament debate. 

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

YEAR 12

1 - Health & wellbeing

Positive well being, Healthy eating & cholesterol, Immunisation & vaccines, Eating disorder, Stress management.

2 - Drugs & Risk education

Alcohol & safety, Substance misuse, Drugs & effects, Synthetic cannabis - SPICE, Classifications, LSD, MDMA.

3 - Sixth Form Careers

Post 16 options, Planning for the future, Personal branding, CV writing, Personal statement intro, Applications - jobs.

4 - Diversity, Health & Safety 

LGBT+, Toxic masculinity, Knife crime & gangs, Dealing with anger, What is cancer, Medical ethics.

5 - Positive Wellbeing 

Dealing with depression, Stress & performance, Dealing with anxiety, Fear & anxiety, Sleep, hygiene & mental health, Promoting emotional wellbeing.

6 - Personal Finance

Tax & the UK, Banks & money, employment types, Role of trade unions, Insurance, What is debt.

YEAR 13

1 - Emotional Wellbeing

Nature/nurture & mental health, Looking after your well being,, Physical Health, IMproving body image, Stress management.

2 - Revisiting Sexual Health & Relationships education 

Fertility, Alcohol & bad choices, Sexual Health, Revisiting contraception, STIs, Respect & relationships, Pornography, Menstruating & fertility.

3 - Personal Finance

Payment methods, Budgeting game, Borrowing money & risk, Value of money & making it, Foreign currency, Supermarket inflation game, Calculating foreign currency.

4 - Drugs

Classification, Festivals & drugs, Cannabis products, War on Drugs, NPS, GHB, Crack cocaine, Heroine.

Sex and Relationships Education

All students will receive Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) in line with the government guidance. 

RSE_secondary_schools_guide_for_parents.pdf

Webite Resources

Drug and Alcohol

Emotional Health & Wellbeing

Financial

RSE

Online Safety

Who to Contact?

PSHCE Coordinators- Natalie Bettaney (Key Stage 3)

PSHCE Coordinators- Joanne Patten (Key Stage 4 & support 5)

Martin Allenby-( Director Post 16 Education and Guidance)