Personal Development
Intent
At St Augustines, Personal, Social Health Education (PSHE) including Relationships Sex Education (RSHE) is at the heart of our school values and ethos and runs throughout all that we do. Our bespoke Personal Development Curriculum aims to enable our children to become healthy, safe, independent, responsible members of society who demonstrate respect and tolerance and who are prepared to face and manage the challenges and opportunities of an ever-changing modern Britain.
We aim for our children:
- To be enthusiastic, attentive, lifelong learners: We will help pupils to have a good understanding of themselves, to have empathy, an ability to collaborate with others and to form and maintain positive relationships treating everyone equally with tolerance and respect.
- To be strong communicators: We will encourage all our pupils to be the very best versions of themselves by communicating their thoughts and feelings, developing their sense of self-worth as well as valuing others but also having the courage to challenge and question each other.
- To develop well-rounded, independent and resilient learners with aspirations: We will help pupils to understand the importance of their physical and mental health, understand emotions and feelings and have strategies to help them become resilient and confident so that they are ready for change and transition.
- To develop and use their God given talents by being creative: We will help to develop the children’s God given talents and provide them with opportunities to reflect on how they can use them with in different ways.
- To be responsible citizens who are eager to make a positive contribution to their community and wider society: We will provide opportunities for our pupils to learn about rights and responsibilities and to know what it means to be a valuable member of a diverse society. We will help them to understand and consider the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up in modern Britain.
Our Catholic School is committed to supporting our parents/carers in teaching children how to build healthy, loving relationships and make positive contributions to society.
Implementation
At St Augustine's, Personal Development is at the heart of our school ethos and runs throughout all that we do.
Children are taught PSHE and RSHE units over a term with teachers timetabling each lesson into their weekly timetable. Our bespoke curriculum follows the Ten Ten Life to the Full Plus scheme alongside A Journey in Love (which is authentic to the teachings of the Catholic Church). In addition to this, we use a range of high quality PSHE resources to ensure that we are following the National Curriculum alongside the statutory requirements. Lessons reinforce the importance of everyone being treated fairly through a focus on British Values, Gospel Values, Catholic Social Teaching and the Equalities Act which underpins our school mission statement: 'Following in the footsteps of Jesus, to serve others'.
Our curriculum maps show progression throughout the whole school. Lessons are adapted to meet the needs of all learners and are planned responsively to issues as they arise. All lessons promote a safe and respectful environment whilst we discuss real-life issues appropriate to the age and stage of pupils, including friendships, families, consent, loving relationships and appropriate relationships online.
Throughout the year, our theme days include: Anti-Bullying, Safer Internet Day, Mental Health Awareness, Water Safety, Healthy Living Day, NSPCC Speak Out, Stay Safe, Time to Talk Day and an RSHE Day focusing on a specific theme each year. Our School Council members and Junior Safety Officers promote and support the organsation of these events as well sharing important updates in assemblies.
At St Augustine's we have ELSA provision to help us meet the needs of individual children and make sure that they are being supported in class and home.
