PSHCE

T: 020 8761 1426

PSHCE

Vision and Aims:
The PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health, Character/Citizenship/Careers and Enterprise) provision at St Joseph’s College uses the models and guidance developed by The PSHE Association including a spiral curriculum and covering their recommended programme of study. Relationships and Sex education at St Joseph’s College is delivered in line with the teaching of the Catholic Church and the Lasallian tradition, providing students with an understanding of the values of the Catholic faith in line with statutory requirements. There are also cross curricular links with Science, Religious Studies, and Health Education. The curriculum facilitates opportunities to explore the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils, at school and in society. It enables all pupils to understand the significance of SMSC issues in our contemporary culture and more so in our local community. The PSHCE curriculum promotes fundamental British Values and strives to develop young people who can both contribute to and benefit from the multicultural society in which they live. PSHCE allows students to become better people with an awareness of the many issues and topics which can help them to become more accepting of people’s differences and allow society to be more accepting of people from any background, e.g., different gender, sexual orientation, religion etc. The PSHCE curriculum seeks to nurture informed and resilient responses to misunderstanding, stereotyping and division. This enables them to participate fully in the cultural life of modern diverse Britain.

This curriculum accompanies other Personal Development elements of SJC provision such as Student Leadership, British Values, Character, Enterprise and Careers Education. It contributes to safeguarding by enabling young people to make sound decisions when facing risks, challenging and complex situations. High quality, evidence based and age-appropriate teaching of these subjects can help prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

Our vision for PSHCE is for all students to leave our school with the skills and confidence to lead healthy, fulfilling, and responsible lives. The aims of our PSHCE programme are to:

Acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of topics related to PSHE, including relationships and sex education, mental health and emotional wellbeing, citizenship, financial literacy, and drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
Develop skills and competencies (Leadership, Organisation, Initiative, Resilience, and Communication) that enable them to make informed decisions, communicate effectively, manage risk, and seek help and support when needed.
Develop positive attitudes and values towards themselves and others, in line with St Joseph’s five Respects.
Provide opportunities for students to apply their learning to real-life situations and experiences and develop their critical thinking and reflection skills.

Delivery
PSHCE at St Joseph’s College is designed around a spiralised curriculum, building on learning year after year when studying specific topics. Previous learning is helpful for students to get the most out of the curriculum and for students to leave St Joseph’s College with a fully rounded PSHCE education, but this learning is not dependent on previous work. Lessons can be taken as single modules of study if need be.

Year 7 – 9 will have a timetabled PSHCE lesson weekly alongside one tutor-time each week dedicated to CHARACTER and Citizenship.
Year 10 and 11 will have one tutor time a week dedicated to PSHCE and one dedicated to Character/Citizenship and Careers.

In addition, some content is delivered through whole school initiatives, including celebration days and assemblies.
We also have strong Partnerships with external providers, such as NHS Croydon, charities, and other professionals to deliver workshops on many of the topics covered as part of this curriculum.

A detailed breakdown of the topics covered can be found on our curriculum map.

Assessment and Evaluation:
Our PSHCE programme is evaluated and monitored regularly, through students and staff feedback, tutor time observation, and outcomes assessment. We use a range of tools to measure the impact of our PSHCE programme, including:

Student voice
Teacher observation and support
Student self-assessment in lessons and Tutor Time

Evaluation data is used to identify areas of strength and improvement in our PSHCE programme, which is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the changing needs and contexts of our students.

Roles and responsibilities:
All staff members are responsible for promoting a positive PSHCE culture and supporting the implementation of the PSHCE Programme. This includes:

Providing high-quality PSHCE lessons that are engaging, relevant, and effective
Encouraging students to participate actively and ask questions and promoting a safe and inclusive environment
Identifying and supporting students who need additional help and support with their PSHCE learning

The Assistant Head for Personal Development alongside the subject head and careers lead is responsible for the oversight, management, and leadership of the PSHCE programme, working in conjunction with the senior leadership team, teachers, and external partners. The responsibilities include:

Managing the implementation of the PSHCE programme, ensuring it is relevant, effective, and meets statutory requirements.
Establishing and maintaining partnerships with external providers to support the delivery of the PSHCE programme
Reporting to the senior leadership team and governing body on the progress and outcomes of the PSHCE programme.

Further information and guidance regarding RSE can be found in The RSE policy.

For further information do not hesitate to contact:
Ms E McIntyre - Assistant Headteacher
Mr S Mc Donald – Head of Personal Development