PSHE at St. Mary's

Why do we teach what we teach? (Our intent)

At St. Mary’s, we want to ensure children feel safe in a caring and inclusive community; where everyone is equal and everyone matters. Our aim is to promote personal, social, spiritual and health education, as well as emotional development and well-being for all pupils. Building on statutory content in the national curriculum, we aim to provide consistency by following the ‘Jigsaw’ scheme of work. We aim to provide pupils with the knowledge, understanding, attitudes, values and skills they need in order to reach their potential as an individual and within the wider community. This will enable them to learn life skills to assist their personal, spiritual and physical growth. We want our children to explore the changes within today’s society, so they can build their understanding of the rights and responsibilities that are part of being an outstanding citizen, thus meeting our school’s core values and ethos.

How do we teach it? (Our implementation)

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) is an important part of children’s learning. Weekly PSHE lessons focus on key objectives - to build their understanding and teach them lifelong skills needed to lead confident and healthy lives.

The sequenced curriculum helps children to build on the skills and knowledge they’ve learnt in previous years. Parallel teaching of PSHE progresses across key stages within the six half-term ‘Jigsaw’ themes:

•      Being Me in My World
•      Celebrating Differences
•      Dreams and Goals
•      Healthy Me
•      Relationships
•      Changing Me (including RSHE)

Each unit consists of six lessons: beginning with ‘connect me’ which sets the atmosphere and ending with time for the children to reflect on their learning. Each lesson has two objectives: one based on their understanding and one for social, emotional aspects of the learning (personal reflection). 

Teaching of the curriculum incorporates an age/mentally appropriate understanding of RHE (as set to statutory guidance), enabling all children to be safe and to understand and develop healthy relationships both now and in their future lives.

PSHE is integrated within other subjects. It also plays an important part in our school assemblies (reflecting our core values) and in serving our local community and beyond, where spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) curiosity is stimulated, challenged and nurtured. Age appropriate global current affairs are shared that equip children for life and help develop empathy for others beyond their own communities. Links to the school core values, fundamental British Values, SMSC, UNCRC (children's rights) and key skills are promoted throughout their time at St. Mary’s. Teachers may feel it necessary to teach PSHE as a result of an issue arisen and are encouraged to do so.

What is the difference that this makes? (Our impact)

At St. Mary’s, children embrace our school ethos - to Learn, Grow, Achieve and Flourish – and are able to implement their personal, social, health and emotional learning in everyday situations. They demonstrate compassion, acceptance and understanding for all and can talk confidently about their learning; understanding the important contribution PSHE has on their personal development and meeting their own needs. Pupils take part in a range of activities and experiences, which contribute to their school life and into the wider community. In doing so they learn to build self-esteem, work well with others, become responsible for their own learning and behaviours and make decisions which dictate the path their lives take. They reflect on these learning experiences and understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues (SMSC) that are part of today’s society. They understand, respect and celebrate diversity, so that they can go on to form positive relationships that are an essential part of life.