PSHE at Stringer
The Personal, Social and Health Education programme is an integral part of the school's official and unofficial (hidden) curriculum and is organised in the following way:
- As a discrete subject
- As a part of the pastoral system
- As part of a developing cross-curricular programme
This obviously allows all staff to be involved in PSHE but the main contribution is made by the PSHE department.
An integral part of the PSHE programme is Careers Education and Guidelines. We consider this to be part of and not separate from our PSHE programme. Sex and relationship education, drug education, citizenship and the progress file are also essential elements of the school's PSHE programme. Detailed information can be found in the appropriate policy documents as well as further on in this handbook.
Our PSHE programme is based upon themes that run throughout all years:
- Self awareness and esteem
- Sex & Relationship Education
- Drugs Education
- Citizenship
- Environmental Education
- Careers Guidance
- Emergency Aid
Aims:
- To help young people understand and value themselves as individuals and as responsible citizens
- To provide effective and relevant careers guidance at appropriate stages throughout all stages of secondary education and for post 16 opportunities
- To develop knowledge and skills to effectively deal with a wide range of issues found in adult life
Objectives:
- To help young people develop more personal autonomy by encouraging greater self-awareness, self esteem and self confidence
- To help young people recognize, manage and take advantage of all opportunities, work and leisure
- To improve decision-making skills and understanding the consequences of those decisions for self and others
- To help young people to develop positive relationships
- To help young people develop an understanding of acceptable behaviour in a wide variety of situations
- To encourage tolerance, understanding, respect and sensitivity to the needs and values of others
- To help young people be more aware of their own abilities, skills, personal qualities and attitudes
- To help young people develop skills and the ability to cope with difficult or emotional decisions and situations
- To help young people develop the necessary skills and understanding to manage the various stages of transition from child to adult and from school to work. Helping them to cope with the increasingly complex challenges of adult life
- To provide as much information, help and support as possible to help young people cope with a wide variety of situations, especially the increasing number of "risk activities" associated with young people
- To help young people develop an understanding and awareness of the education, training and career opportunities available generally and in the local area; and to be able to make considered choices about their own continuing education training, occupation and career paths
- Ensure pupils know where and who to ask for information, help and support
Initiatives:
- Eco-school status: PSHE spends time in each year groups looking at how we can help and sustain the environment
- Healthy Schools Award: The school is in the process of going for gold. PSHE deals with many issues surrounding health and well being of pupils, including social, mental and physical well being
- Peer mentoring: PSHE supports this scheme by delivering some lessons with the circle time model
- St John Ambulance: All pupils in Yr 7 and 8 follow a course and are tested by St John testers, helping them to become responsible citizens and be able to help fellow citizens in an emergency
- Committed to Careers: This award shows that we offer all pupils access to careers information and services through out all years
- Take your child to work day: A new scheme at the end of Yr 9. Pupils accompany a parent or close family friend to work for the day to begin to investigate the world of work in more depth. Pupils interview employers and find out about 2 or 3 roles within the place of work