Teaching and Learning: Personal, Social, Health and Economic Curriculum (PSHE)

This term started like no other. Covid-19 has left us all experiencing different emotions and we are finding new ways to keep both physically and mentally healthy and happy, whilst getting on with life under the new lockdown/tier rules. Thankfully the changes in the PSHE and SMSC curriculum has allowed us to introduce a recovery curriculum which supports all students to transition back into school life. 

When discussing relationships and health education the Department of Education stated that “schools should have the same high expectations of the quality of pupils’ work in these subjects as for other curriculum areas” which is why this year we have introduced timetabled lessons, books for all students to reflect on learning, new resources and we have included training on sensitive topics as part of our Professional Development programme. PSHE will also now be taught under the umbrella term of Personal Development and reported on during all Assessment Points where students will be expected to complete a short assessment on their progress. 

This term students have been learning about Covid-19 and the government guidance, grief and bereavement, being kind, peer relationships, anxiety and social anxiety. Before the half-term break, students were also given the opportunity to reclaim their own history and culture, celebrate diversity, foster healing and wellbeing and build a sense of belonging with the Arts Week Project. During Arts Week, students and staff also worked together to create our own patchwork quilt representing our Capital Community.