PSHE Curriculum Overview

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)

Preparing Young People for Life

At The Vyne Community School, education is about preparing young people not only for examinations, but for life.

Our Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) curriculum helps students develop the knowledge, understanding, confidence and judgement they need to navigate the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges they will encounter as they grow into adulthood.

We want our students to leave The Vyne able to make informed decisions, build positive relationships, look after themselves and others, understand the world around them and contribute positively to their communities.

PSHE therefore plays an important role in bringing our DOVE values of Determination, Opportunity, Valour and Empathy to life.

An Ambitious Curriculum for Every Student

Our PSHE curriculum is carefully planned and sequenced from Year 7 to Year 11 so that students revisit important themes with increasing depth and maturity as they progress through the school.

Students develop their knowledge and understanding across key areas including:

• physical health and wellbeing;
• emotional wellbeing and resilience;
• relationships, including friendships, families and respectful relationships;
• Relationships and Sex Education (RSE);
• online relationships, social media and staying safe online;
• personal safety, safeguarding and recognising risk;
• consent, boundaries and healthy relationships;
• equality, diversity and respect;
• drugs, alcohol, vaping and other risk-taking behaviours;
• financial education and managing money;
• careers, aspirations and preparation for the future;
• citizenship, democracy and life in modern Britain;
• recognising exploitation, coercion and unhealthy behaviours;
• making informed, responsible decisions.

Our curriculum is responsive to the world our young people are growing up in. Where appropriate, we adapt and supplement our planned curriculum to address emerging issues while ensuring that students build secure knowledge over time.

Developing Confidence and Character

PSHE gives students a safe and structured environment in which to explore important issues, consider different perspectives and develop the confidence to make informed choices.

Through discussion, reflection and carefully chosen learning activities, students are encouraged to think critically about the influences around them and consider the consequences of their decisions for themselves and others.

Our DOVE values provide an important foundation for this learning.

Determination helps students develop resilience, manage setbacks and make choices that support their long-term goals.

Opportunity encourages students to understand the possibilities available to them and develop the knowledge and confidence to make informed choices about their future.

Valour means having the courage to make the right decision, establish boundaries, resist pressure, ask for help and speak up when something does not feel right.

Empathy helps students build healthy relationships, respect difference and understand how their words, choices and actions affect other people.

Relationships and Sex Education

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) forms an important part of our PSHE curriculum and is taught in an age-appropriate and sensitive way.

Our aim is to help students understand what healthy, respectful relationships look like and to give them the knowledge they need to keep themselves and others safe.

Students learn about areas including friendships, families, consent, boundaries, intimate relationships, sexual health, online relationships and recognising unhealthy or abusive behaviours.

We recognise the important role parents and carers play in educating their children about relationships and growing up. We therefore aim to communicate clearly about our RSE curriculum and work in partnership with families.

Further information about the content and delivery of RSE, including the school's statutory responsibilities and parents' rights, can be found in our Relationships and Sex Education Policy.

Learning to Stay Safe

An important purpose of PSHE is ensuring students have the knowledge and confidence to recognise when something may be wrong and know what to do about it.

Students learn how to identify risk, recognise potentially harmful or exploitative situations, understand appropriate boundaries and know where and how to seek help.

We want students to understand that asking for help is a strength.

We encourage our young people to look out for one another and to have the Valour to speak to a trusted adult when they are worried about themselves or somebody else.

Understanding and Respecting Others

The Vyne is a diverse and inclusive community.

Through PSHE, students learn about different identities, cultures, beliefs, families, experiences and perspectives. They are encouraged to challenge prejudice and discrimination and understand the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect.

We want students to be able to disagree respectfully, listen to different viewpoints and develop their own opinions based on knowledge and thoughtful consideration.

This is central to our value of Empathy and to preparing young people to participate positively in modern Britain.

Looking to the Future

PSHE also helps students consider who they want to become.

Through careers education, financial education, goal setting and opportunities to explore future pathways, students are encouraged to think ambitiously about their lives beyond The Vyne.

We want every student to understand that their future is not predetermined by their starting point or circumstances. Our role is to help them develop the knowledge, confidence and aspiration to recognise opportunities and make informed choices about the next stage of their lives.

Working in Partnership

The most effective PSHE education is built on partnership between school, students, parents and carers.

We encourage families to talk to their children about the issues explored through PSHE and welcome constructive dialogue about our curriculum.

Our detailed PSHE curriculum maps show what students learn in each year group and allow parents and carers to understand how knowledge develops from Year 7 through to Year 11.

Together, we can help our young people develop the knowledge, character and confidence they need to make positive choices, build healthy relationships and approach their futures with ambition.

We want every student to leave The Vyne knowing how to keep themselves safe, how to value and respect others, and confident in their ability to make choices that will shape a positive future.