RHE/PSHE
PSHE and RHE
PSHE and RHE at St Chad’s Catholic Primary School
At St Chad’s Catholic Primary School, Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education and Relationships and Health Education (RHE) play a vital role in supporting pupils’ personal development and wellbeing.
Through our PSHE and RHE curriculum, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to live healthy, safe and responsible lives. Rooted in our Catholic ethos, the curriculum supports pupils in recognising the dignity of every person and encourages them to treat others with kindness, respect and compassion.
Pupils are supported to develop positive relationships, understand their responsibilities within their community and learn how to keep themselves safe both in the real world and online.
PSHE and RHE are also an important part of safeguarding at St Chad’s. Through age-appropriate learning, pupils develop the knowledge and confidence to recognise risks, manage challenges and seek support when they need it.
Intent
Our PSHE and RHE curriculum aims to support pupils in becoming confident, respectful and responsible members of society.
Through the teaching of PSHE and RHE, pupils will:
• develop a strong sense of self-worth and personal identity
• understand the importance of positive and respectful relationships
• learn how to maintain good physical and mental health
• recognise risks and know how to keep themselves safe, including online
• develop resilience and strategies for managing emotions and challenges
• understand their responsibilities within their community and the wider world
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure pupils build their knowledge and understanding progressively throughout their time at St Chad’s.
Implementation
PSHE and RHE are taught through a structured and carefully sequenced programme of learning supported by the Ten Ten Life to the Full programme, alongside additional resources and experiences that support safeguarding, wellbeing and personal development.
Our PSHE and RHE curriculum is carefully sequenced across the academic year to ensure learning is purposeful, relevant and responsive to key events and safeguarding priorities.
Rather than teaching modules in a fixed order, content is organised to link with important national and school events. For example, learning around relationships and respect is prioritised during Anti-Bullying Week, while online safety is revisited during Safer Internet Day. This approach ensures that pupils can apply their learning in meaningful and real-life contexts.
Across the year, pupils revisit key themes including relationships, safety, wellbeing and community, allowing them to build and deepen their understanding over time.
Our curriculum is organised around three key themes:
Health and Wellbeing – understanding physical and mental health, healthy lifestyles, managing emotions and recognising when and how to seek help.
Relationships – developing positive friendships, understanding family relationships, respecting differences and learning how to build healthy and respectful relationships.
Living in the Wider World – developing an understanding of community, responsibility, economic awareness and the role pupils play as active citizens.
Learning is delivered through dedicated PSHE lessons as well as through wider curriculum opportunities including assemblies, themed events and enrichment activities.
To further enhance the curriculum, pupils benefit from specialist workshops and support programmes including:
• Pol-Ed sessions, which support pupils in understanding personal safety, the role of the police and making responsible choices.
• City in the Community (CITC) programmes, which provide workshops and support around disability awareness, mental health and wellbeing, leadership development and social skills.
• Thrive mental health sessions, which support pupils in developing emotional wellbeing and resilience.
• Leadership coaching opportunities for pupils to develop confidence, teamwork and responsibility.
• Targeted interventions to support pupils with social communication and relationship skills.
Pupils also take part in a range of wider experiences which reinforce key PSHE learning, including:
• Online safety learning
• Road and rail safety sessions
• Year 6 participation in Crucial Crew
• Charity fundraising and community events
• Enterprise opportunities for pupils in Key Stage 2
• Healthy lifestyle learning through science and themed weeks.
Through these experiences, pupils are supported to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to live healthy, safe and responsible lives.
Progression
The PSHE and RHE curriculum at St Chad’s is designed to build progressively on pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding as they move through the school. Learning is carefully sequenced to ensure that pupils revisit key themes, deepening their understanding over time and applying their learning to real-life situations.
Throughout their time at St Chad’s, pupils develop an increasing awareness of themselves, their relationships and their role within the wider world.
Early Years Foundation Stage
In the Early Years, pupils begin to develop the foundations of personal, social and emotional development through play, exploration and structured learning.
Children learn to:
recognise and talk about their feelings
develop positive relationships and friendships
understand simple rules and routines
begin to manage their own needs and develop independence
understand how to stay safe and identify trusted adults
These early experiences provide the foundation for future learning in PSHE and RHE.
Key Stage 1
In Key Stage 1, pupils build on these foundations and begin to develop a greater understanding of relationships, wellbeing and personal responsibility.
Pupils learn to:
recognise and name a wider range of emotions
develop positive friendships and understand the importance of kindness and respect
understand how to keep themselves healthy and safe
begin to understand online safety
identify trusted adults and know how to ask for help
Learning at this stage supports pupils in developing confidence, independence and an awareness of how their actions affect others.
Key Stage 2
In Key Stage 2, pupils deepen their understanding and begin to apply their knowledge in more complex and real-life contexts.
Pupils learn to:
manage friendships and resolve conflict positively
understand and respect differences and diversity
develop strategies to support their mental wellbeing and resilience
understand physical and emotional changes as they grow
recognise risks, including online, and know how to stay safe
understand their responsibilities as members of a community
develop economic awareness and an understanding of the wider world
By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils are well prepared for the transition to secondary school. They are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make informed decisions, build positive relationships and take responsibility for their own wellbeing and behaviour.
Impact
The impact of the PSHE and RHE curriculum at St Chad’s is seen in the confidence, behaviour and attitudes of our pupils.
Through a carefully sequenced curriculum and a wide range of experiences, pupils develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to keep themselves safe, build positive relationships and make responsible choices.
Pupils at St Chad’s demonstrate:
respect for others and an understanding of positive relationships
confidence in discussing their thoughts, feelings and experiences
an awareness of how to keep themselves safe, including online
the ability to recognise risks and seek help when needed
resilience and strategies to support their mental wellbeing
an understanding of their role within their school and wider community
Pupils are able to apply their learning in a range of contexts, including the playground, classroom discussions and wider school life. This is reflected in their behaviour, attitudes and the way they interact with others.
The impact of the curriculum is also seen through:
positive behaviour and relationships across the school
pupil voice, where children can articulate their understanding of key concepts
participation in wider opportunities such as leadership roles, charity work and community events
pupils demonstrating readiness for the next stage of their education
By the time pupils leave St Chad’s, they are well prepared for secondary school. They have developed the knowledge, confidence and personal skills needed to make informed choices, build healthy relationships and contribute positively to society.