PHSEE/Life Skills

All teachers are expected to nurture students’ social & emotional well-being, to promote the diversity of our city and the values of compassion & respect that we share as a society.

The Life Skills curriculum incorporates PHSE, citizenship, relationships and sex education, and careers education.  It aims to engage, challenge and encourage all students to develop their essential skills.  This enables them to become full and active citizens in our society and to embrace the challenges of creating a happy and successful adult life. The curriculum equips students with the knowledge, skills and understanding to make informed decisions about relationships, their physical, mental, and financial wellbeing and future education and career options. Students develop awareness and understanding of democracy, government, their rights and how laws are made and upheld as part of their studies.

The challenges of life are addressed by teaching knowledge alongside scenarios and alternative viewpoints. This encourages students to reflect and think critically about situations they may face in the future.  They learn to identify bias and misinformation to enable informed decision making. Everyone faces difficult situations in their lives, through following the curriculum students develop resilience as well as their knowledge of how, when and who to ask for support when needed.

Our curriculum is both inclusive and diverse through the study of how civic and human rights came to be. Students consider the lives of people who are different to themselves, for example by ability, gender, sexuality and ethnicity. Students are supported and encouraged to use their skills and understanding to make and promote positive differences to their own lives, as well as to the lives of others.

In KS3 students are given Personal, Health, Social and Economic Education/Life Skills lessons where a variety of topics are covered such as maturity, friendship and relationships, health (physical, emotional and sexual), politics and personal finance.

PHSEE and Citizenship is delivered through a series of enrichment activities, tutorial sessions and also across the curriculum, particular in Religion, Ethics and Philosophy lessons. Students are expected to make progress in the following aspects:

  • becoming informed citizens
  • developing skills of enquiry and communication
  • developing skills of participation and responsible action
  • Sex and Relationships Education
  • Drugs Education
  • Careers guidance (including work experience)

Students will build on their understandings from Key Stage 3 to learn about:

  • The legal and human rights and responsibilities underpinning society and how they relate to citizens,
    including the role and operation of the criminal and civil justice systems.
  • The origins and implications of the diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the UK and
    the need for mutual respect and understanding.
  • The work of parliament, the government and the courts in making and shaping the law.
  • The importance of playing an active part in democratic and electoral processes.
  • How the economy functions, including the role of business and financial services.
  • The opportunities for individuals and voluntary groups to bring about social change locally, nationally, in Europe and internationally.
  • The importance of a free press, and the media’s role in society, including the internet, in providing information and affecting opinion.
  • The rights and responsibilities of consumers, employers and employees.
  • The UK’s relations with the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
  • The wider issues and challenges of global interdependence and responsibility.
  • British Values
  • The dangers of radicalisation and violent extremism.
Key Stage 3

In KS3 students are given Personal, Health, Social and Economic Education/Life Skills lessons where a variety of topics are covered such as maturity, friendship and relationships, health (physical, emotional and sexual), politics and personal finance.

Key Stage 4

PHSEE and Citizenship is delivered through a series of enrichment activities, tutorial sessions and also across the curriculum, particular in Religion, Ethics and Philosophy lessons. Students are expected to make progress in the following aspects:

  • becoming informed citizens
  • developing skills of enquiry and communication
  • developing skills of participation and responsible action
  • Sex and Relationships Education
  • Drugs Education
  • Careers guidance (including work experience)

Students will build on their understandings from Key Stage 3 to learn about:

  • The legal and human rights and responsibilities underpinning society and how they relate to citizens,
    including the role and operation of the criminal and civil justice systems.
  • The origins and implications of the diverse national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the UK and
    the need for mutual respect and understanding.
  • The work of parliament, the government and the courts in making and shaping the law.
  • The importance of playing an active part in democratic and electoral processes.
  • How the economy functions, including the role of business and financial services.
  • The opportunities for individuals and voluntary groups to bring about social change locally, nationally, in Europe and internationally.
  • The importance of a free press, and the media’s role in society, including the internet, in providing information and affecting opinion.
  • The rights and responsibilities of consumers, employers and employees.
  • The UK’s relations with the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
  • The wider issues and challenges of global interdependence and responsibility.
  • British Values
  • The dangers of radicalisation and violent extremism.
Key Stage 5