What is PSHE ?

Personal, social and health education (PSHE) deals with many real life issues young people face as they grow up. It gives them the knowledge and skills needed to lead healthy and responsible lives as confident individuals and members of society.
PSHE education makes a major contribution to schools’ contribution to the Every Child Matters (ECM)* 5 outcomes for children and to the statutory responsibilities to:
– promote children and young people’s wellbeing
– achieve the whole curriculum aims
– promote community cohesion
– provide careers education
-  provide a basic understanding of financial capability and economic wellbeing
*The ECM outcomes are: be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic wellbeing

Why is PSHE education important to children and young people?
PSHE education equips children and young people with knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive, fulfilled, capable and responsible lives. It encourages them to be enterprising and supports them in making effective transitions, positive learning and career choices and in managing their finances effectively. PSHE education also enables children and young people to reflect on and clarify their own values and attitudes, and explore the complex and sometimes conflicting range of values and attitudes they encounter now and in the future.

Some of the topics covered during the year are:

Year 7:
Careers – understanding myself, Road safety talk, talks form the school nurse on wellbeing, bully free form, a talk from the police on cyber bullying, recycling, charity , attitudes to work, and you as a citizens

Year 8:
The declaration of human rights, cyber bullying, school nurse talk about alcohol, relationships, fire department talk and role-play on risk, exploring yourself and your motivations, careers talk from Connexions Personal Advisor, you and your opinions, pocket money, the power of the media and you and your values.

Year 9:
Peer influences, understanding others, decision making, bullying, who am I and what do I want to be, knowing myself, stresses and strains, fast tomato careers program, dealing with loss and the job shadowing

Year 10:
Statement of partnership, learning to learn, C.V writing, dealing with stress, work experience briefing and preparation, developing your identity, relationships, Britain as a diverse society, rights and responsibilities, 16+ options talk, government and then work experience

Year 11:
Wellbeing delivered by the school nurse, updating C.V’s, Colchester institute and sixth form college talks, Tim Foot, road safety, financial capability program on personal finance, and money matters, records of achievement, dealing with stress and revision help.