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Inspection report 2010
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PSHE
PSHE is all about YOU!
Preparation for life beyond school is not just about getting good grades. It is about ensuring pupils have the skills needed to live life to the full, confident that they are making the right choices, being comfortable with themselves and respecting the diversity of people around them.
PSHE lessons provide a safe forum for developing confidence and making the most of pupils' abilities. Through PSHE we learn to develop a healthy, safer lifestyle and form good relationships between people. PSHE also focuses on allowing pupils to become independent in both their thoughts and actions whilst developing and maintaining empathy for those around them.
Beyond the timetabled lessons, aspects of PSHE are also embedded within tutorial time, assembly and across lots of academic subjects from Science to Religious Studies and in any school activity which is concerned with personal and social skills and happiness. We are continually working on making links with academic subjects so that our pupils can continue to grow in a variety of ways, enhancing their skills, confidence and knowledge.
Successes
The PSHE department has been organising school wide surveys on internet use and bullying to help us to understand more about life as a pupil here at The Perse. This allows us to keep up to date with the issues that really matter to our pupils and assists with keeping our pupils safe and happy during their time at school.
As well as the timetabled lessons, the PSHE department invite in experts to talk to year groups on pressing issues such as personal safety, puberty and alcohol. These further reinforce the key PSHE messages but also give pupils another way to learn and to express themselves through workshops, drama and Q&A sessions.
Course content
The PSHE programme meets statutory requirements and is responsive to the current needs of pupils. The Head of PSHE collaborates with the Deputy Head (Pastoral) and the Heads of Lower and Middle School to provide a programme which complements pastoral care.
The PHSE lessons are timetabled, with two periods per (two week) cycle for Years 7 and 8, and one per cycle for Years 10 and 11. Year 7 are taught in whole form groups by their tutor with the rest of the school being taught in half form groups of around 12 to allow for more open discussion and for everyone to have a chance to express their ideas and opinions. As part of the school's tutorial programme, some sensitive topics are covered in single sex groups.
PSHE provision in Year 9 is provided through the tutorial programme with a series of structured tutor-lead activities and discussion groups. Citizenship issues can also be found across the curriculum in subjects such Geography, English and Religious Studies and are intrinsic to the school’s ethos and learning environment.
PSHE programme
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 10 | Year 11 |
| New school and homework | Personal identity | Personal safety | Moving into Year 11 – maturity and responsibility |
| Friends, peer pressure and bullying | Families | Drugs | Discussing Sixth Form options |
| Resolving conflict | Controlling anger and compromise | Tobacco | Emotional literacy |
| Alcohol | Gender and sexuality | Alcohol | Diet and performance |
| Tobacco | Puberty | Gender roles and expectations | Work/life balance |
| Internet and mobile safety | Relationships | Respecting and understanding sexual diversity | Personal finance |
| Personal safety including road, fire, water | Safer sex and contraception | Sexual relationships | Self-image and the media |
| Healthy eating | Illegal drugs | Contraception in a committed relationship | Preparing for employment |
| First aid | Respect and responsibilities | Sexual health | Managing stress and exam preparation |
All of these topics are taught interactively through the use of debate, role play and decision making. The department also uses games, websites and visual learning resources not only to impart knowledge but also to develop our pupils’ thinking and communication skills.
PSHE lessons are not just about learning what to do and what not to do but about being able to make safe and wise choices.
