PSHE
At Mark Rutherford School, PSHE education is a carefully planned programme designed to support students’ personal, social, and emotional development. It helps young people thrive as individuals, family members, and active members of the community by building confidence, resilience, and self-esteem. Lessons encourage students to make informed choices, manage risks, and understand the influences on their decisions, while also providing safeguarding knowledge and guidance on when and how to seek help. Students are encouraged to reflect on their own values, attitudes, and identities within a safe and respectful space. Through exploring difference, managing emotions, and developing empathy, they gain essential skills for relationships, employability, and life beyond school. The curriculum also supports career choices, transitions, and achieving long-term economic wellbeing. In addition, students actively learn about and uphold the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These values are embedded throughout the PSHE curriculum, preparing students to contribute positively to modern British society.
Our PSHE programme is guided by the PSHE Association’s programme of study and all resources used in lessons are PSHE Association accredited. For further information about our PSHE curriculum, please see the links below.
There are three core themes in PSHE:
Health and Wellbeing
- Physical Health: Learning about healthy eating, physical activity, sleep, and general hygiene.
- Mental Health: Developing emotional management skills, understanding mixed emotions, and recognising the impact of experiences like bullying and loneliness.
- Personal Development: Understanding growth and development, managing transitions (like starting secondary school), and protecting personal information.
Relationships
- Friendships and Social Skills: Exploring the qualities of healthy friendships, responding to peer pressure, and understanding how relationships change as individuals grow.
- Family and Community: Learning about different family structures and how to be a good member of a community.
- Seeking Support: Knowing where to go for advice and help when needed.
Living in the Wider World
- Economic Wellbeing: Learning about managing money, budgeting, saving, and understanding financial risks.
- Careers and Ambition: Developing career pathways, challenging stereotypes, and understanding employability skills.
- Digital and Media Literacy: Recognising how online content can be manipulated, evaluating media sources, and understanding safer online behaviours.
- Citizenship and Rights: Understanding one's rights and responsibilities as a member of the community and society, and how to challenge discrimination.
For further support, please see the Signposting poster below, which is on display in our PSHE classrooms as well as referred to in lessons where helpful and appropriate.