PSHE

Our Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education Curriculum.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education Intent

Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education is a subject that goes beyond the academic and encompasses the whole child to develop responsible, respectful and active citizens. At St John Chrysostom Federation we follow a ‘knowledge engaged’ curriculum as we recognise that building up knowledge and understanding is key but also place an emphasis on fundamental skills and strategies that are essential to our children managing their lives, now and in the future. Our education prepares children to use these skills and apply them in this ever changing, fast moving world, particularly in our city setting of Manchester. We draw upon the British Values of democracy, rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance. We provide a PSHE education as it contributes to the statutory duties, outlined in the Education Act 2002, to provide a balanced and broadly-based curriculum whilst adhering to the compulsory teaching of relationships and health education as of September 2020.

Within the Federation, we strive to do the best for all our pupils. We aim to ensure that our PSHE education is sensitive to the different needs of individual pupils and provides a flexible and current text led curriculum that is relevant to our pupils. Our children receive an engaging and relevant education that is developed through the ‘Federation’s four cornerstones’, each of which relates to the uniqueness of Manchester living. This means that we will draw upon our city living, the services, community and other opportunities to build rich experiences for our children. Through the use of Manchester Healthy Schools programme, teachers will explore age related topics such as Relationships and Health Education, Mental and Emotional Health, Keeping Safe, Healthy Lifestyles and Living in the Wider World engaging them in discussions and debates as well as reflecting on their own experiences, this will extend children’s communication, language and literacy skills. Our holistic approach to PSHE underpins everyday life and builds to a stronger future. Therefore, it will be taught discreetly as well as through other subjects which will reinforce skills and knowledge gained through PSHE lessons.

Throughout their time at St John Chrysostom Federation we aim to provide children with the skills and knowledge to achieve aspirational goals who can draw upon a broad and rich set of experiences. Children will develop their own self-awareness and be able to self-regulate as well as problem solving and utilising resilience. Through the promotion of equality as well as the celebration of diversity, pupils will thrive together. They will develop their character and be able to make sensible and informed decisions later in life. We hope to contribute to developing responsible, respectful and active citizens who are able to keep healthy and safe.

Purpose of Study 

Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is an important and necessary part of all pupils’ education. All schools should teach PSHE, drawing on good practice, and this expectation is outlined in the introduction to the proposed new national curriculum.

PSHE is a non-statutory subject. To allow teachers the flexibility to deliver high-quality PSHE we consider it unnecessary to provide new standardised frameworks or programmes of study. PSHE can encompass many areas of study. Teachers are best placed to understand the needs of their pupils and do not need additional central prescription.

However, while we believe that it is for schools to tailor their local PSHE programme to reflect the needs of their pupils, we expect schools to use their PSHE education programme to equip pupils with a sound understanding of risk and with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions.

Schools should seek to use PSHE education to build, where appropriate, on the statutory content already outlined in the national curriculum, the basic school curriculum and in statutory guidance on: drug education, financial education, relationships and health education and the importance of physical activity and diet for a healthy lifestyle.

Relationships and Health education

Relationships and Health education is an important part of PSHE education and is statutory in maintained primary schools.

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