Students are taught in year 9 by dedicated Lifeskills teachers, and in year 10 + 11 by their subject teachers, mainly through class-based discussion activities. Learning outcomes are evidenced and formatively assessed within lessons.

As well as timetabled lessons, content is also covered through tutor time activities, assemblies and via external speakers.

There are further details about PSHE education across the trust and our RSE+PSHE policy attached.

 

Curriculum Aims

Life Skills is a curriculum that allows all age students to explore a range of topics that extend beyond the usual academic subjects in our primary, secondary and recently developed special schools. Students study and reflect on those areas of life which affect us all, developing knowledge, skills understanding, resilience and reflection. The core curriculum is based around the PSHE Association Thematic Model for key stage 1 to 4 and PSHE KS5 schemes of learning. As a part of your child’s education at we promote personal wellbeing and development through our house system and a comprehensive Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programme. PSHE education is the curriculum subject that gives young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live safe, healthy, productive lives and meet their full potential.

The model covers all the statutory requirements for their phase, within a comprehensive PSHE education programme, fully meeting Department for Education’s statutory guidance on Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education.

We use the Gatsby 8 Pillars to inform our careers programme, using the software Unifrog as an integral part of our programme of study.

 

Your child and their peers will be taking part in sessions which will focus on the relationships and sex education (RSE) aspect of this PSHE programme.  The content of RSE sessions is outlined clearly, by year group, in the Meridian Trust Policy which can be found on the Trust website here: Meridian-Trust-Secondary-and-Special-School-Relationships-sex-education-policy-PSHEv4-24-03-23-final.pdf (meridiantrust.co.uk). Pupils will also have opportunities to ask questions that help prepare them for relationships of all kinds in the modern world.

 

PSHE education is taught thematically throughout the school in every year group and is monitored and reviewed regularly by the staff and governing body. All PSHE teaching takes place will take place in a safe learning environment and is underpinned by our school ethos and values.

 

As a school community, we are committed to working in partnership with parents; recent parental feedback has indicated that the overwhelming majority of parents continue to be highly supportive of the relationships and sex education programme. If you would like to find out more or discuss any concerns, we would urge you to attend the information meeting and look forward to seeing you there.

  

Key Curriculum Content (please see road map attachment for further details)

There are three overarching themes taught through age related content, meeting statutory standard for Relationship and Sex Education.

  • Health & Well-Being
  • Living in The Wider World
  • Relationships

Topics covered in Year 9 include:

  • Knife crime, peer pressure and gangs
  • Homophobia
  • Managing conflict
  • Alcohol, drugs and addiction
  • Relationship and Sex Education
  • Healthy Relationships and consent
  • Crime & punishment
  • Child Sexual Exploitation
  • Sexting & Pornography
  • Careers work
  • Child on Child abuse

Topics covered in Year 10 & 11 include:

  • Physical Health
  • Mental Health, well-being & self-esteem
  • Coping with stress, including exams
  • Democracy & Citizenship
  • British Values & Human Rights
  • Challenging extremism and radicalisation
  • Careers & Work Experience
  • Domestic abuse & forced marriage
  • Matters of Life
  • Child on Child abuse

 

 

Have Your Say

We regularly review the content of PSHE as a Trust, at local governance level and with our families.

Our Parent Forum provides an opportunity to explore this curriculum in a little more detail and we will ask for your views yearly.

 

Our next review window is: Currently Open 

 

https://forms.office.com/e/pFvsazBtCC

 

Please feel free to complete the Form linked here. We will bring your views together in October and create a bespoke Parent Forum from this feedback.