RSHE

Curriculum Intent

All children deserve the chance to grow into safe, happy and successful adults. Our RSHE curriculum is designed to arm scholars with the knowledge and skills they need to make positive, informed and healthy choices as they navigate life in the future.

In RSHE scholars will explore a range of topics linked to their social and emotional development. Each year they will explore a different aspect of the following topics

Health & wellbeing
Safety
Relationships and Sex Education
Living in the wider world

Topic will range from: how to set healthy boundaries in friendships to how to save for a mortgage. From basic first aid to how to vote in elections. From how the human body changes in puberty to how best to tackle racism in our communities.

As an academy, we put the needs of the scholars in our care first. We know it’s important for them to be literate and numerate with appropriate qualifications to prepare them for further education of work, but we also know that scholars need to develop their social and emotional skills. Our RSHE curriculum is carefully planned to ensure that all scholars are informed about healthy relationships at an appropriate level for their age and development. This is not taught in isolation and links to other areas of the curriculum and enrichment in order to give it meaning and aid understanding. Our RSHE curriculum supports scholars to understand the risks and to keep themselves safe. The RSHE teaching in this academy contributes to our statutory duty to safeguard scholars and prepare them for the responsibilities and experiences of adult life. RSHE is taught in a progressive, sequenced, age appropriate manner throughout the academy.

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Scholars will begin their time at DCA by considering transitions to secondary school and staying healthy. This will consider; mental and well-being during transitions, physical health and fitness, healthy eating and setting healthy routines.

Year 7 will then begin to consider aspects of personal safety including; road safety, keeping safe in and outside school, first aid, types of common crimes and reporting crime and abuse.

Exploring Puberty and Healthy Boundaries including; puberty and changing bodies in boys and girls; body image; personal space and unwanted contact; healthy friendships and romantic boundaries and the dangers of FGM.

Finally discussing developing a community. Topics include; equal opportunities and life choices; raising aspirations; university/career opportunities and building teamwork and enterprise skills.

Year 8

Scholars entering year 8 begin RSHE by considering the risks of drugs and alcohol abuse before undertaking a module in online and digital safety.

Year 8 will then consider different aspects of a person’s identity and why these may form protected characteristics under the law. They will also begin to discuss important topics like consent, contraception and resisting the pressure to have sex.

Considering financial decision making in adult life covering topics such as saving, borrowing, budgeting and funding future life choices such as university.

Year 9

Scholars will begin their Year 9 RSHE study by considering peer influence, substance abuse and gangs. They will discuss what makes a healthy and unhealthy friendship as well as learning skills such as assertiveness. Leading to learning about safety within families and communities. This topic covers elements such as domestic violence; honour based violence; forced marriage and FGM.

Year 9 will explore the risks and choices associated with intimate relationships including consent; contraception; the risk of STIs and type of healthy relationships and families.

Considering what makes a community and how can we promote a sense of belonging. They will also discuss challenging extremism and hate crime.

Key Stage 4

Year 10

During year 10, scholars will begin their programme of study by considering the balance of their mental and physical health as they progress into KS4 as part of this course they will also explore the impact of role models and the media. They will then consider how to balance increasing independence and freedoms with personal safety and responsible choices.

Year 10 will consider aspects of intimate relationships such as sexual safety, romantic expectations and challenges to healthy relationships including the impact of media and communities.

Finally they will consider the building blocks of modern society including democracy and rule of law as well as challenges facing a modern government.

Year 11

During year 11, scholars will consider methods of safeguarding their own mental health during the stress of exams and transitions to higher education. They will also learn about safety within families and communities. This topic covers elements such as domestic violence; honour based violence; forced marriage and FGM.

Year 11 will learn about the choice and consequences associated with intimate relations including STIs, pregnancy, peer pressure and mental health, expressing your choices re contraception and the consequences of teen pregnancy.