PSHE

PSHE and RSE in EA Foundations

At Excelsior Academy Foundations, our PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education) and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum is taught in accordance with statutory guidance and is designed to equip pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to manage their lives, relationships and responsibilities safely, confidently and successfully.

Through a carefully sequenced programme of learning, pupils develop the confidence to make informed choices, build positive relationships and understand their role within both the school community and wider society. Lessons provide opportunities for discussion, reflection and practical application, helping pupils to develop resilience, independence and respect for themselves and others.

Learning covers the following key areas:

• Relationships: developing respectful friendships, understanding different types of family relationships, recognising positive and harmful behaviours, managing conflict, understanding consent in an age-appropriate context, and identifying trusted adults and support networks.

• Health and Wellbeing: maintaining positive physical and mental health, understanding emotions, developing strategies to manage challenges, making healthy lifestyle choices, understanding puberty and adolescence, and building self-esteem and resilience.

• Safety and Risk: making informed decisions, recognising and managing risks, responding appropriately in emergencies, understanding personal boundaries, and staying safe both within the community and online.

• Living in the Wider World: exploring British Values, diversity, equality, inclusion, democracy, rights and responsibilities, community participation, and understanding the role individuals play in society.

• Economic Wellbeing: developing financial awareness, understanding saving, spending and budgeting, recognising the value of work, exploring future aspirations and preparing for increasing independence.

• Digital and Media Literacy: evaluating online information, recognising misinformation, communicating responsibly online, protecting personal information, understanding digital footprints, and recognising the influence of social media, media content and advertising.

Throughout EA Foundations, lessons are carefully planned to be age-appropriate, engaging and relevant. A range of teaching approaches, including discussion, scenarios, collaborative activities and reflection, enable pupils to apply their learning to real-life situations. Content is delivered sensitively and inclusively, ensuring pupils feel safe to ask questions, express their views and access appropriate support when needed.

Our aim is to ensure that pupils leave EA Foundations as confident, respectful and responsible young people who are well prepared for the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of adolescence and beyond.

PSHE Programme - EA Foundations

Links:

Jigsaw PSHE: https://jigsawpshe.online/

Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education: (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education

Key Stage 2 PSHE and RSE Progression Model: PSHE-Foundations-Progression-Model.pdf

Aims of the EA Horizons PSHE Curriculum

At Excelsior Academy, our PSHE curriculum is designed to develop pupils' character, confidence, resilience and understanding of the world around them. Through a carefully planned spiral curriculum, pupils revisit key concepts throughout Years 8 to 11, enabling them to build upon prior learning and develop increasingly mature knowledge, understanding and skills as they progress through the academy.

The curriculum supports pupils' social, moral, spiritual and cultural development, preparing them to become informed, responsible and active citizens who can contribute positively to their communities and wider society.

Our PSHE curriculum aims to enable pupils to:

• Communicate knowledge, ideas and opinions confidently through discussion, debate and oracy.
• Participate fully in classroom discussions, written tasks, reflection activities and collaborative learning.
• Work independently and cooperatively whilst demonstrating respect for the views, experiences and beliefs of others.
• Develop critical thinking and decision-making skills that can be applied to a range of real-life situations.
• Build resilience, confidence and self-awareness to support their personal development and wellbeing.
• Engage with specialist speakers and external organisations to deepen understanding and provide real-world context for learning.

The curriculum is centred around seven key themes:

1. Healthy Relationships
2. The Wider World
3. Being Safe
4. Healthy Living
5. Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG)
6. Specialist Lessons, including responsive and contextual safeguarding sessions
7. Recap and Reflection

We work closely with a range of external partners to enrich the curriculum and provide expert guidance on important topics. These partnerships help pupils develop their understanding of issues such as personal safety, healthy relationships, crime prevention, water safety, online safety, mental wellbeing and making positive life choices.

PSHE in Years 8 and 9

In Years 8 and 9, pupils continue to build upon the foundations established during their time in EA Foundations. Learning is delivered through a spiral curriculum in which key themes are revisited in increasingly age-appropriate and challenging ways.

Pupils explore topics including relationships, physical and mental health, personal safety, diversity and inclusion, financial awareness, online safety and life in modern Britain. Through discussion, debate and reflection, pupils develop the confidence to express their views, challenge misconceptions and make informed decisions.

Learning encourages pupils to understand and respect differences, recognise risk, develop positive relationships and take responsibility for their own wellbeing and behaviour.

PSHE in Years 10 and 11

As pupils progress through Years 10 and 11, the curriculum continues to focus on the same core themes whilst addressing issues that become increasingly relevant as young people prepare for adulthood.

Pupils explore more complex topics relating to relationships, health, personal safety, financial decision-making, careers, employability, citizenship and independent living. They develop a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities they may encounter beyond school and are supported to make informed, responsible choices.

Through PSHE, pupils strengthen essential transferable skills including:

• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Decision making
• Collaboration
• Communication and debate
• Financial literacy
• Media literacy
• Empathy and respect
• Evaluation of different viewpoints

These skills support learning across the wider curriculum and help prepare pupils for further education, employment and life beyond school.

By the end of Year 11, pupils will have completed the full statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum and will have developed the knowledge, understanding and confidence needed to navigate the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges of modern life. Regular retrieval activities, reflection and discussion ensure that pupils can apply their learning confidently and appropriately to real-world situations.

Links:

RSE Guidance Secondary School: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f2c2b988fa8f57ac88dc996/RSE_secondary_schools_guide_for_parents.pdf

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy: EA-Relationships-and-Sex-Education-Policy-AJun26-RMay27.pdf

PSHE-Curriculum.pdf