PSHE
Personal development is at the heart of what we do here at Education Links. For many years we have led the way in having dedicated PSHE lessons rather than just drop down days for individual PSHE topics. The PSHE and Citizenship course at Education Links allows pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and prepare for life and work in modern Britain. We aim to develop skills such as resilience and self-esteem and empathy, focusing on the core themes of health and wellbeing, relationships and living in the wider world (including economic wellbeing and aspects of careers education). By teaching pupils to stay safe and healthy our effective PSHE and Citizenship programme tackles barriers to learning, raises aspirations, and improves the life chances of all of our young people.
We regularly have specialist organisations who deliver to our small groups of students. This might be about drugs awareness, sexual health, anger management, county lines or mental health. This curriculum is also supported by a school councillor who is on hand to work 1-1 with students who are facing emotional difficulties. The course includes units from the Prince’s Trust Achieve Programme with certification offered from Entry 3 Level to Level 2.
Topics covered
- Grooming/CSE/county lines/gang culture
- Bullying/online safety
- Mental ill health first aid
- relationships/sexual health
- Healthy lifestyles
- Discrimination/prejudice
- Managing stress/exam stress
- Managing money/budgeting/finances
- Drug misuse
Key Stage 4 and the start of GCSEs and BTECs can be a challenging and exciting time for students. With this in mind, the first unit of work for Y10 focuses on taking care of our own and others’ mental health; then students look in more depth at managing money, having previously encountered this at Key Stage 3; before moving on to sex and relationships; drug and alcohol use and abuse; different types of families; and finally addressing extremism. In Year 11, students learn: effective revision strategies and how to build resilience when preparing for exams; careers and future options; sex, consent and relationships; and staying safe online. By the end of Key Stage 4, students will be able to:
- Describe and implement strategies to support themselves and others with their mental health;
- Know how to practice good financial management, including staying safe online and the risks of gambling;
- Describe and demonstrate what a healthy relationship includes and does not include;
- Articulate and demonstrate an awareness and sound understanding of consent and the law;
- Describe the dangers and consequences of alcohol and drug misuse;
- Describe and appreciate diversity within family types, including LGBTQ+ families;
- Understand the risks associated with, and describe how to support a friend or peer at risk of, extremism in its different forms;
- Articulate and understand the challenges and opportunities social media presents, including topics such as bullying, extremism, peer influence, sexting and body image; and
- Plan and implement a revision timetable to maximise and balance study and other commitments.