PSHEE and citizenship policy

PSHEE and Citizenship are an essential part of our curriculum as they deal with issues affecting our pupil's lives, both on an individual basis as well as the whole school community, which in turn lead to the wider world. It is essential that attention be paid to the requirements of PSHEE and Citizenship if we, as a school, are to provide solid foundations for our pupils' futures.

 

Aims

Through the PSHEE and Citizenship curriculum we aim to equip our pupils with the knowledge, understanding attitudes and practical skills they need to lead confident, healthy, safe and independent lives. We aim to make continuous positive contributions to our pupils' education, enabling them to become informed, active and responsible citizens.

 

Guidelines

In the planning and presentation of PSHEE and Citizenship we follow the guidelines found in the National Curriculum for England and Wales.

At KS1 and KS2, the curriculum is separated into four strands that suggest areas in which the pupils will progress:

  1. developing confidence and responsibility and making the most of their abilities;
  2. preparing to play an active role as citizens;
  3. developing a healthy, safer lifestyle;
  4. developing good relationships and respecting the differences between people.

 

At KS3 and KS4, there are two new non-statutory programmes of studies: personal wellbeing and financial capability. These programmes are based on Every Child Matters outcomes and build on the existing frameworks and guidelines in these areas. The social and emotional aspects of learning [SEAL] programme also makes a significant contribution to our approach.

To ensure that all areas of the curriculum are covered, the subject co-ordinator will devise termly plans.. It is the responsibility of individual classroom teachers to write half-termly and weekly plans for PSHEE and Citizenship based upon both the weekly themes and the NC guidelines. In the Primary School, each week will have a new theme, which is relevant to religious, school or the year's calendars. The Secondary School may base the weekly Friday assembly theme upon the same theme

In addition to this planned work, the curriculum is fulfilled by day to day classroom life and situations. Though PSHEE and Citizenship is timetabled for each week it is a very diverse and cross-curricular subject. It may be the case, on some occasions that a formal lesson structure is not relevant as the theme may lend itself more readily to a subtler approach. Teachers are sensitive to the opportunities offered by other subjects and by momentary or unexpected experiences.

Thus, the PSHEE and Citizenship programme will include:

  • learning opportunities across the curriculum
  • specific lessons with separate curriculum time
  • explicit opportunities in other curriculum subjects
  • whole school and extended timetable activities
  • specific projects
  • information, support, guidance on specific areas of learning and development
  • learning through involvement in the life of the school and wider community.

These opportunities should be planned, coordinated, assessed, monitored and evaluated. Children and young people should be involved in this process, influencing provision from the start as well as having a say in how learning develops.

Whole school Assembly is an integral part of PSHEE and Citizenship. It is during this time that the pupils begin to see and understand that they are not only an important member of their class and year group but they have an active role to play as a member of the whole school community. It is necessary that all pupils and staff attend assemblies not to give the impression that any individual may be superior or inferior to the rest of the school.

The main emphasis of teaching PSHEE and Citizenship lies in providing children with practical experiences. They then need opportunities to reflect upon their experiences enabling them to understand how they are developing personally and socially. In addition to this spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues must never be overlooked, as the development of empathy is an all-important part of growing up. 

The use of ICT is greatly encouraged in PSHEE and Citizenship. The Internet is a means by which both teachers and pupils can research topics of interest along with the use of relevant information CD-ROM's. Music often has a role to play along with video footage, OHPs and books.

 

Above all it is vitally important that PSHEE and Citizenship is accessible to all pupils in the school. Though it is not a subject that can be assessed by attainment targets it is necessary to observe the social and personal progression that pupils make as they grow in the school.

Aspects of Religious Education will be explored within the topics of PSHEE, and will be planned in to the termly PSHEE topic scheme.