PSHE and SRE at High Wycombe Combined School, helps our children to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage life’s challenges and making the most of life’s possibilities; helping them to  flourish thereby opening the doors to opportunities

The study of PSHE and SRE at HWCE is a school subject through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and prepared for life and work. At HWCE, we aim for a high quality PSHE curriculum which develops 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. Our curriculum has been adapted to ensure opportunities for all learners are equal, irrespective of SEN, gender, ethnicity, background or beliefs. We aim to do this by placing a greater focus on practical role-play scenarios where children have the opportunity to develop their language acquisition skills. This helps us to place a greater focus on real-life experiences and understanding of different social scenarios. This ensures all learners have an equal chance to succeed, regardless of language gaps and written barriers to learning.

Our Vision

High Wycombe C of E is a nurturing environment in which each child is encouraged to reach their full potential. As a school, we believe that all are individuals and therefore, we aim to promote mutual respect and responsibility, in a happy, caring atmosphere. The teaching and learning of PSHE and SRE supports and upholds this vision. PSHE deals with the diverse beliefs, values and attitudes that individuals and societies hold. They help for the children to develop themselves; their understanding of the world;  and their ability to communicate their feelings. Our vision is for every child to feel enabled to reflect on and clarify their own values, attitudes and feelings by having an opportunity to explore a range of a values and attitudes that they encounter in their lives and in their future lives. 

Intent

PSHE and SRE at HWCE helps children to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage life’s challenges and make the most of life’s opportunities, helping them to flourish in their journey to the fullness of life.

HWCE is a loving, inclusive school community with a Christian ethos that enables all to be independent, confident, resilient learners, respectful within the school and the wider world, encouraging all to flourish.

PSHE at HWCE is a subject through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and prepared for life and work. Well-delivered PSHE programmes have an impact on both academic and non-academic outcomes for children, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

At HWCE, we aim for a high quality PSHE curriculum which develops skills and attributes such as resilience, self-esteem, team work and critical thinking in the context of three core themes: health and wellbeing, relationships and living in the wider world.

Our curriculum is inclusive, to ensure opportunities for all learners are equal, irrespective of SEN, gender, ethnicity, background or beliefs. We aim to do this by placing a greater focus on practical lessons through role-plays and class discussions, where children have the opportunity to develop their language acquisition skills. This helps us to place a greater focus on real-life experiences and understanding of different social scenarios. This ensures all learners have an equal chance to succeed, regardless of written barriers to learning.

Implementation

At HWCE, we use the SCARF curriculum, which has been amended to meet the specific needs of our children. In Reception, PSHE is taught as parts of the ‘Personal, social and emotional development’ and the ‘Understanding the World’ aspects of the curriculum.

Across the rest of the school, PSHE is taught 1 lesson per week. Our curriculum focuses upon the three main strands: relationships; living in the wider world; and health and well-being.

These focuses are re-visited each year on a spiral curriculum. Each year, we aim to build upon current skills, ensuring it is age appropriate and relevant to the needs of our children.

As a school, we actively seek opportunities to enrich our curriculum with real-life experiences and scenarios. Within each year group, where ever possible, we invite a range of guest speakers, such as local police, councilors, care workers, nurses and other important members of our community who help to bring our learning to life. We are always actively looking for new and inspiring experiences which can enhance our PSHE provision.      

Impact

As a result of our PSHE  and RSE teaching at HWCE you will see:

• Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) enables our children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of a society.
•  It aims to help them understand how they are developing personally and socially, and tackles many of the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up.
• We strive to provide our children with learning opportunities across and beyond the curriculum, in specific lessons, circle time, special school projects and other activities that enrich pupils’ experiences.
• It allows pupils to learn about rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse society.
•  Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life and the wider community. 
• At HWCE, we embrace in which PSHE supports many of the principles of safeguarding and its close links to the school’s Safeguarding, SMSC and British Values Policies.
• Personal, Social, Health Education is central to our curriculum; it helps children grow and develop as individuals and as members of families and communities.
• Through PSHE, children will have the knowledge, understanding, skills, attitudes they need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives, and to become informed, active and responsible citizens.
• Children are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities and experiences across and beyond the curriculum, contributing fully to the life of their school and communities. They reflect on their experiences and understand how they are developing personally and socially, tackling many of the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. They learn to understand and respect our common humanity; diversity and differences so that they can go on to form the effective, fulfilling relationships that are an essential part of life and learning.
• The personal and social development of pupils underpins our curriculum. Through a carefully planned programme, supported by all who work in or with the school, we want children to leave HWCE’s ready for the transition into secondary school and adult life.  Our framework for PSHE embeds the three strands — health and wellbeing, relationships and living in the wider world, as well as the statutory aspects of the Relationships and Sex Education, and Health Education guidance.