Intent

PSHE and Citizenship Curriculum Intent

The PSHE and Citizenship department are committed to offering students the opportunity to see the world with a broad, balanced and aspirational mindset during their time at Selly Park, and when they move onto their next stage of education, training or employment. During PSHE and Citizenship lessons, students take part in engaging lessons that challenge them to develop key character virtues, grasp cultural capital opportunities and appreciate the diversity of religion, culture and human experience inherit in Britain. The aim of all teachers involved in PSHE and Citizenship is to provide inspirational teaching, using the spiral curriculum to expand on prior learning, in a safe and vibrant learning environment, where challenging, thought-provoking debate and discourse are encouraged.

The PSHE and Citizenship programme of study has been tailored to match the needs of our students and our school’s community. The curriculum is implemented by our teachers and specialists. To assure the high quality of teaching we are using only officially recognised resources, delivered by The PSHE Association and The Oaks Academy, which are available for every parent and guardian. The PSHE and Citizenship department made sure to make our lessons relevant to our students and their lives not only now, but also in their further, academic and professional life. Thanks to our spiral approach, the topics examined and discussed in class are often related to other academic subjects, such as: Maths, Science, History, Art, Psychology, History or MFL.

Relationships and sex education (RSE) policy statement

Aims and Ethos

 The aims of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) at our school are to:

• Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place

• Cover the legal rights and responsibilities regarding equality (particularly with reference to the protected characteristics as defined in the Equality Act 2010) and that everyone is unique and equal

• Explore how stereotypes based on sex, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or disability, can cause damage

• Develop healthy, nurturing relationships of all kinds, not just intimate relationships;

• Cover the characteristics and legal status of different types of committed, stable relationships

• Understand what is required when developing intimate relationships and potential resulting pressure to engage in sexual activity (consent); • Know what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in relationships;

 • Understand the positive effects that good relationships have on their mental wellbeing, identify when relationships are not right and understand how such situations can be managed

• Prepare pupils for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene

• Help pupils develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy

• Create a positive culture around issues of sexuality and relationships

 • Teach pupils the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies

Under the Relationships and Sex Education provision, all students in the school will be made aware of the value of stable family life and relationships, and the responsibilities of parenthood. We will build on our students’ primary school education of healthy, respectful relationships – both of family and friendships - in all contexts, including online. This will sit alongside the essential understanding of how to be healthy, as well as introducing knowledge about intimate relationships and sex. Teaching about mental wellbeing is central to these subjects in all contexts too. At Selly Park, we value the importance of our RSE provision as it contributes to creating a positive ethos and environment for learning by safeguarding our pupils by promoting their emotional wellbeing and improving their ability to achieve in school. RSE is a key element of PSHE and Citizenship education at Selly Park Girls’ School and a key element of our broader focus on personal development which develops a deeper appreciation of diversity and inclusion. The PSHE curriculum allows for the school ethos and focus on character education and personal development to become ingrained as we want to inspire students to actively seek to develop their own character through the teaching of PSHE, RSE and Citizenship so they ultimately

Sex and Relationship Education Policy