Some may ask, PSHE, what is that? It has been given many acronyms over the years and you may recall something similar from your own school days. As well as various name changes, the curriculum has recently been updated to reflect the multifaceted and rather complex society in which we live. School is not just about learning the recognised subjects or preparing for exams but also about supporting the journey our young people are on, as they try to make sense of their lives and the world around them. Knowledge is empowerment and they have the right to ask questions and expect answers now and as they get older. Therefore, at Great Ballard, each form group has dedicated PSHE lessons to allow time to explore the topics covered in the government’s statutory guidance.
We have developed a cross-curricular programme which brings to life the GB head, hand, health and heart philosophy. Mental, Academic and Physical (MAP) lessons, led by Mrs. Lendrum and Mrs. King, delve into, for example, learning about how the food we eat really does affect our moods and how we can improve our behaviour by thinking about what we eat. Learning to Learn (L2L) led by Mrs. Jerwood and Ms. Johnson, examines, for example, how we all have different learning styles and if we understand ourselves better, we can help ourselves when it comes to not only studying but also communicating, speaking in public or regulating our own behaviour. And the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) programme, led by me, gets to grips with some perhaps uncomfortable but essential topics. The programme builds across the years from 3 to 11, so that while all students cover issues under the headings of ‘health and well-being’, ‘relationships’ and ‘living in the wider world’, these are age appropriate and adapted to the needs of our students, rather than following a prescribed curriculum. Prep students are currently discussing the features of healthy and unhealthy friendships and how to make and maintain healthy relationships, as well as how to seek advice if they are ever worried. Older students are assessing the impact of alcohol, tobacco, caffeine (including energy drinks) and medicinal and recreational drugs, as well as recognising and managing peer influence.
As I said, knowledge is power, and our students deserve nothing less. At Great Ballard we look outwards as well as inwards, and all students explore the wider world around us, such as observing Black History Month in October and World Climate Change Day in May. Our PSHE education programme is built to equip pupils with a sound understanding of risk and with the knowledge and skills necessary to make safe and informed decisions. RSE (relationships and sex education) is statutory from secondary-age but because RE (relationships education) is statutory from primary-age we introduce the topic of puberty and reproduction (in Science and PSHE) in the older prep years. We place the utmost importance on sharing equal and joint responsibility with parents for our children’s education, including relationship education. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me.