Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)

Students at Great Baddow High School study PSHE in timetables lessons called “Lesson for life” which they have once a fortnight in Years 7 to 13.

Students also have two weekly tutor sessions covering “Lessons for life” which tie in directly with their timetabled lessons.

Additionally, we hold talks for whole year groups and a Personal Development Day in July for Years 7-10.

Lessons for Life includes the school coverage of relationships and sex education (RSE), Health Education, Careers Education and Finance.

These are delivered in six themes, one each half term:

1. Personal wellbeing
2. Futures (Careers Programme)
3. Respect
4. Healthy body and mind
5. Relationships and Sex
6. Finance

What is PSHE?

PSHE (personal, social, health and economic) education is a school curriculum subject through which pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage their lives, now and in the future.

Our PSHE programme includes all statutory relationships and sex education (RSE) and Health Education. PSHE education helps pupils to stay healthy, safe and prepared for life – and work – in modern Britain.

When taught well, PSHE also helps pupils to achieve their academic potential.

GBHS Students Study Lessons for Life to…

• Learn how to be safe, happy, healthy and confident.
• Learn how to live fulfilling, successful, independent and active lives.
• Learn how to be active and responsible citizens within a community, striving for tolerance and showing respect for others.
• Learn how to set goals, achieve ambitions and develop resilience.

Creating a safe learning environment

A safe learning environment helps pupils to share feelings, explore values and attitudes, express opinions and consider those of others, without attracting negative feedback.

As well as encouraging more open discussion, it also helps to ensure that teachers are not anxious about unexpected disclosures or comments and that pupils are not put on the spot, upset or traumatised. It is good practice for teachers to:

• Work with pupils to establish ground rules about how they will behave towards each other in discussion.
• Provide opportunities for pupils to discuss issues in small groups as well as sharing views with the whole class.
• Provide access to balanced information and differing views to help pupils clarify their own opinions (whilst making clear that behaviours such as racism, homophobia, bi-phobia, transphobia, discrimination and bullying are never acceptable in any form).
• Be cautious about expressing their own views as a teacher. You are in an influential position and must work within the school’s values, policies and the law.
• Be sensitive to the needs and experiences of individuals, as some pupils may have direct experience of some of the issues.
• Always work within the school’s policies on safeguarding and confidentiality (and ensure that pupils understand school policies on disclosure of confidential information and following up concerns in a more appropriate setting outside lessons).
• Link PSHE education into the whole-school approach to supporting pupil wellbeing.
• Make pupils aware of reliable sources of support both inside and outside the school.

For further information please read the PSHE Programme document below.