The subject is led and primarily delivered by the subject leader for PSHCE, with support to deliver provided by a small and highly experienced team.  PSHCE is an evolving subject, and its content is updated regularly to reflect the changes in national guidance (such as tweaks to our Sex and Relationship curriculum following the publication of the compulsory RSE curriculum for teaching from September 2020).  The subject is also informed by feedback from the Health and Wellbeing advisor at the local PSHCE subject leader networking events, and other PSHCE subject leaders.  Furthermore, pupil voice in school and through the North Yorkshire GUNY survey (Growing up in North Yorkshire) helps provide feedback on the effectiveness of the topics within the PSHCE curriculum. This formal feedback, together with informal feedback (within lessons) is used to update and adapt content and resources regularly.  

Further evolutions to the content of the subject can be at short notice as a result of international, national or local news events; such as the terrorist attack at the Arianna Grande concert in Manchester.  

The delivery of the subject takes place through curriculum time, with an hour a week of PSHCE delivered in small groups to all students at key stage 3.  This is further enhanced by tutor time activities, dedicated assembly time and deep learning days which are delivered to key stage 3 and key stage 4 students. Furthermore, mental health week in May is used as an additional opportunity to promote the mental wellbeing and resilience of our students. Students take part in workshops looking at meditation, mindfulness, coping with stress and additionally, self-harm in year 9. 

Our programme of study aims to develop skills and attributes such as resilience, self esteem, risk management, team working and critical thinking in the context of three core themes: Health and wellbeing, Relationships, and Living in the wider world (including economic wellbeing and aspects of careers education).   

The topics covered (outlined below) broadly fit into a theme, however there are crossovers within lessons for the topics as indicated in the table. 

These three themes fit into the wider school curriculum of Maths (finance), Science (health and wellbeing + relationships), RE (living in the wider world + relationships) and ICT (living in the wider world); with PSHCE allowing students to apply their knowledge from these subjects, and discuss how to appropriately and safely respond in given situations.  

The PSHCE curriculum at Upper Wharfedale School builds on learning acquired at KS1 and KS2 where students learn about the importance of healthy eating, basic hygiene, staying safe online, basic finance (including identifying money), staying safe in the home, British values, identifying parts of the body, as well as bullying and how it affects mental health. 

The topics at KS3 and KS4 follow a spiral curriculum, building on knowledge and skills taught in previous years (both at this school and prior). 

For example the Relationships theme starts with students learning about puberty, periods and personal hygiene. These changes in the body are built upon in year 8 (with students now more aware of their body) with topics such as body image, self-esteem and different types of relationships being explored and discussed in group and class discussions. In year 9 this leads to students being given the opportunity to explore, clarify and if necessary challenge their ideas about sexual relationships, STIs and contraception as well as consent. At key stage 4, students are able to build on prior knowledge and understanding within the relationships theme, by exploring topics such as grooming, pornography and healthy relationships including domestic abuse. These topics are essential discussions to be had in the PSHCE lessons, as they allow our students to understand how to keep themselves resilient, safe and prepared for life (as outlined in our intent for the subject) and fits into our school vision of confident individuals and active and responsible citizens.  

The impact of our year 8 relationships unit can be seen through our pupil voice where students expressed how useful they found the content of the lessons. Comments included “I think it helped me personally get over things that happened in the past” and “It helped me to understand how people’s online comments can affect others”.