Personal Social and Health Education with Citizenship

At Hurst Lodge we believe that the whole child should be educated.  Our concerns are for the development of the whole person equipping them for the demands of modern day living. Our PSHCE teaching is essentially about the self and includes the knowledge, skills and attitudes that contribute to personal development.  Our PSHCE teaching promotes the ethos and core values of our school by educating pupils to grow up with a sense of duty towards fellow people and the environment.  We aim to maximise each student’s potential in a safe learning environment enabling him or her to contribute to society and achieve personal goals.  These aims are embedded in our curriculum, our traditions and the whole school experience.

PSHCE can be found interwoven into the school’s daily curriculum; sensitive treatment of human reproduction is taught in Biology, environmental issues in Geography, social and citizenship issues in History and moral dilemmas in Religious Studies and English. Outside the PSHCE sessions, personal development is encouraged in all subject areas and across the afterschool curriculum and general school life.  Aspects are found in school assemblies, charity days, service, sporting activities and areas of special interest; all will reinforce the aims of PSHCE.

We aim to teach our pupils to appreciate and value themselves as individuals and as caring members of society.  To understand their rights and responsibilities as members of the school, of society, and in their role as global citizens, to foster within them a sense of social and moral responsibility and facilitate an understanding of the contribution they can make to their community through active involvement and participation.  To help them develop awareness about themselves and their relations with others as well as with the physical, social, political and vocational environment in which they live. We encourage them to develop the skills of respect, sensitivity and tolerance of the needs and values of other people which enables them to develop a wide variety of relationships and adopt appropriate behaviours.  We hope to equip them with the capacity to make decisions and to appreciate the consequences of those decisions for themselves and others.

We hope that our pupils will become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. We encourage them to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school and the wider community. In so doing we aim to help them develop a sense of self worth. We teach our pupils how society is organised and governed and ensure that they experience the process of democracy in school through the school council, green reps, the house and buddy systems.

As a whole school community we appreciate the value and contribution made by the differing cultures and diverse backgrounds of our pupils and staff.  We look to address the social and moral issues raised by being part of a multi cultural community and teach our pupils about rights and responsibilities so that they can learn to appreciate what it means to be a positive member of a diverse multicultural society.

The aims of personal, social and health education and citizenship are to enable our pupils to:

• know and understand what constitutes a healthy lifestyle;
• be aware of safety issues;
• understand what makes for good relationships with others;
• have respect for others;
• be independent and responsible members of the school community;
• be positive and active members of a democratic society;
• develop self confidence and self esteem;
• make informed choices regarding personal and social issues;
• develop good relationships with other members of the school and the wider community;
• to develop rational thinking skills in order to make informed decisions;
• to develop listening skills and the ability to communicate ideas and opinions to others and to tolerate others’ opinions which may not be their own;
• to develop pupils’ ability to cope with success and failure encouraging them to evaluate their own beliefs, lifestyle and those of others;
• to encourage them to take some responsibility for their own learning and to develop a positive attitude;
• to raise their awareness of their individual rights and responsibilities encouraging them to promote those rights in a socially acceptable form ensuring that others’ rights are not infringed. 

Teaching and Learning Style

We use a range of teaching and learning styles. We place great emphasis on active
learning by giving our pupils the opportunity to practise and develop their skills of discussion, negotiation, decision making, assertion, problem solving and collaboration. Through these means we hope our pupils will develop their own attitudes and values. We encourage the pupils to take part in a range of practical activities that promote active citizenship, e.g. charity fundraising, the planning of school special events such as assemblies, competitions or house events, by volunteering, being guides at open days, or by becoming involved in school or community life.   We organise classes in such a way that pupils are able to participate in discussion to resolve conflicts or participate in the creation of a class code of conduct. We offer pupils the opportunity to hear visiting speakers, such as health workers, charity workers and representatives from the local church, whom we invite into the school to talk about their role in creating a positive and supportive local community.

To facilitate learning;

• the purpose of each lesson is made clear
• there are appropriate learning experiences to meet the needs of all pupils in the class
• learning draws on pupils own experiences or existing knowledge and provides them with a range of opportunities to learn, practise and demonstrate their skills, attitudes and knowledge and understanding
• time is given for pupils to reflect

Within the PSHCE classes it is important the pupils feel comfortable and trusted, able to contribute, feel supported by their teachers, support each other and express their feelings. For this reason PSHCE classes are often less formal than other curriculum classes
We have four major strands of approach in our study programme.  These develop the individual’s knowledge of relationships, discipline, health and community. PSHCE will cover the four strands of approach, using the pupil’s key skills and utilising varied teaching methods.  This promotes the ethos of the school and prepares students for the wider world.  Lessons are delivered age appropriately taking into consideration those with special educational or support needs. Content includes:
Relationships: Tolerance, anger, racial equality, faiths, attitudes, prejudice, influences, image, friendships, love, contraception, sex, marriage, families, abortion, euthanasia, loss, bereavement and divorce.
Discipline: Self esteem, confidence, behaviour in life – school/home, organisation, time, money to include budgeting, self discipline, anger management, bullying (phone, text, MSN, Chat rooms etc) antisocial behaviour, independent learning, critical thinking skills, careers opportunities, personal tasks and targets.
Health: Mental, spiritual, physical, sexual, chemicals, drugs, alcohol, smoking, muscle tissue, sexual organs, diet, balanced meals, fitness, obesity, eating disorders.
Community: Local, national, global, lifestyle, school, family, friends, terrorism and world events. Building an awareness of conservation, pollution, recycling, our responsibilities to animals and their care including drug testing on animals, media, news, TV, radio, magazines, political realms. The law in the UK, European Law, Europe, the police, human rights, children’s rights, religious groups, places of worship, right to faith or no faith, charities, works of service.  
These areas are also linked to our healthy eating, ethos and value cycle, equal opportunities, drug and child protection policies.

Curriculum Planning

We teach PSHCE in a variety of ways both formally and informally. In most classes we teach PSHCE as a discrete subject.  Some PSHCE subject areas are covered through time tabled curriculum subjects, e.g. when teaching about sustainability and recycling, the Geography department takes the lead. As there is a large overlap between the programme of study for religious education and the aims of PSHCE, we teach a considerable amount of  PSHCE through our Religious Education lessons. Careers lessons prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.  The informal curriculum provides a wide range of opportunities for PSHCE including drama, activities, school visits and school service.  We also develop PSHCE through activities and whole school events, e.g. themed assemblies and the school council where elected representatives from each class meet regularly to discuss school matters. Regular annual themes punctuate the year such as Remembrance Day, Jeans for Genes Day, MacMillan Coffee morning and Anti Bullying week. We offer a residential visit to Mill on the Brue – Outward bound centre to Juniors and Seniors, where there is a particular focus on developing pupils’ self esteem and giving them opportunities to develop leadership and cooperative skills.
Our house system underpins both the formal and informal framework by encouraging a strong sense of belonging. Pupils are encouraged to participate in community celebrations and activities, to take active roles in the school’s society and in society in general.  We expect our students to take an active interest in the world around them and to act as role models and ambassadors for the school and young people in general.
Where students have touched on personal issues that may require further pastoral support, they are guided by their personal tutors and members of staff.  Where necessary there is a route to professional support.

Links with the community

As part of our whole school approach to PSHCE we believe that the school has a responsibility to acknowledge, understand and cultivate our place in the wider community on a local, national and international level. Throughout the academic year there are a number of areas where we are able to demonstrate our links with the community examples of these are laid out in Annex A.
Teaching PSHCE to Pupils with Special Educational Needs

At Hurst Lodge we teach PSHCE to all pupils, whatever their ability. PSHCE forms part of the school curriculum policy to provide a broad and balanced education to all pupils.  We provide learning opportunities that enable all pupils to make progress. We do this by setting suitable learning challenges and responding to each child’s different needs.  Our teaching is differentiated either by task or by outcome.  Most of our lessons are discussion based and all children are encouraged to participate.

We endeavour to enable pupils to have access to the full range of activities involved in learning PSHCE. Where pupils are to participate in activities outside the classroom, for example, a charity fundraising event, we carry out a risk assessment prior to the activity, to ensure that the activity is safe and appropriate for all pupils.

Assessment and recording

Teachers assess the pupils’ work in PSHCE by making informal judgements as they observe them during lessons and by doing occasional formal assessments of their work.

Teachers record and report to parents on the achievements of pupils in PSHCE each year.

Certificates are awarded on Prize Giving Day at the end of each year on which notable contributions to areas of PSHCE, endeavour and other awards are recorded. This celebration of achievement contributes to building pupils’ self esteem, develops their sense of pride, a sense of community and belonging and helps create a positive atmosphere in the school.

We do not set formal examinations in PSHCE. The assessments that we make of pupil achievement do not imply that a pupil has ‘passed’ or ‘failed’.

Monitoring and review

The PSHCE curriculum development group are responsible for monitoring the standards of pupils’ work and the quality of teaching. Together they lead and direct the subject across the school.

The development task for the school year 2009 – 2010 is the total review of the PSHCE curriculum and an analysis of the PSHCE audit.  The curriculum development group will meet regularly to update the plans and policy throughout the year.
Subject staff have been asked to audit the areas where they feel they are covering target PSHCE issues. All staff are encouraged to take an active interest in PSHCE and are encouraged to promote cross curricular links across disciplines.
The curriculum development group liaise with; the catering department and cookery teacher to promote healthy living:  the science department on the delivery of sex education, and with the sports and dance department for fitness and health.
Evaluation of the PSHCE curriculum is based on pupil and teacher feedback.  In order to ensure that the PSHCE  policy is implemented and updated, the Principal or member of the PSHCE development group will meet with the Head of the Student Council and the Sixth form to discuss relevant issues to develop the following year’s programme of study.

 The Jubilee School of Compassion, Ghana

PSHCE Annex A

Examples of involvement in the community
• Community access to extracurricular classes .
• Visiting speakers and specialists for workshops and assemblies
• Invitations to local community members to school productions and events
• Participation in local community events e.g.; Sunningdale Lights (Seniors)
• Participation in and the hosting, of sporting fixtures and competitions with other schools both locally and nationally.
• Fundraising for Local Community and National projects
• Running inter-school competitions such as an annual Biathlon and other Sports Fixtures and the ISA National Drama Festival
• Taking part in local festivals eg; Windsor Festival (Seniors)
• Taking part in ISA Art Competition.  Hosting ISA Art Competition and Teacher Training Session
• Links with the Eden projects and their initiatives
• Outings to a variety of local and national attractions
• Supporting International projects such as the Pattaya Orphanage - Thailand, Orfund – Sierra Leone, Jubilee School of Compassion - Ghana
• Work experience in the Local Community (Years 10 and 11) as well as allowing external people to come to the school for work experience
• Students participate in local amateur and professional productions
• Attending and performing in the Women’s World Day of Prayer (Seniors)
• Singing as the Church Choir at the local Church for Christmas
• Singing for community weddings
• Allowing local community groups to access our facilities such as the local Archery and Amateur Dramatic groups as well as National Synchronized Swimming team, Scouts.
• Developing CD’s for schools. ( Percy Parker Times tables and other music cds)
• Performing at BETT (Juniors)
 

Page last updated on: 12 Apr 2010