Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education

La Sainte Union provides a programme of lessons and events to help students manage their lives and to thrive as individuals and members of society.

The programme follows National Curriculum recommendations, responds to the needs of different Year Groups and is sufficiently flexible to enable us to respond to relevant issues in politics and the media.

Our programmes ensure that students understand and value a democratic way of life. Through assemblies and lessons, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their interaction with others and to understand their rights and responsibility according to Catholic social teaching. In this way, they are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of life in modern Britain.

The primary focus of PSHCE is to help students manage different kinds of risk, make well-informed decisions, consider a range of perspectives and express their views confidently. We invite speakers from a wide range of specialist organisations, organise theatre performances and provide regular opportunities for students to make presentations and run lessons on themes they have prioritised.

Key areas such as sexual health and relationships, financial awareness and drugs education are supported by specialist facilitators who help our own staff in providing opportunities for more in-depth study. The full Relationship and Sex Education policy can be found on the policies page.

Most lessons are designed by the PSHE Lead and delivered by our PSHE team once a fortnight, but Citizenship themes are also addressed in other subject lessons.

Key Stage 3: topics in PSHCE lessons

Autumn Term

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Transition to secondary school Making new friends Black History Month Exploring identities and similarities Exploring identities and differences Identifying and challenging bullying Making healthy choices (eating and sleep)	Introduction to relationships Family relationships Black History Month Healthy friendships Boundaries and consent Knowing your rights (UDHR) Online safety, grooming, and self-esteem Fake news and echo chambers	Dealing with change in life Study skills, resilience and managing stress Black History Month Forms of discrimination and allyships (homophobia, ableism, racism, transphobia, sexism, …) Careers Managing mental health including self-harm Preventing cancer and heart disease

Spring Term

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Knowing your body: reproductive systems Knowing your body: reproductive systems and sex Body image and self-care Puberty: Introduction to periods Privacy and consent FGM	Media influence on body image Link between physical health and mental wellbeing Recognising and dealing with emotions Alcohol and smoking/vaping Drug misuse Boundaries and consent	Camden Choices Program (term-long program to raise awareness to the dangers of crime associated with drugs, knifes, grooming, …)

Summer Term

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Forced marriage Personal safety and first aid Making choices with friends and online Careers	Careers Intimate relationships Relationships and intimacy online Contraception	Camden Choices Program (term-long program to raise awareness to the dangers of crime associated with drugs, knifes, grooming, …)

Key Stage 4: topics in PSHCE lessons

Autumn Term

Year 10	Year 11
Marriage and civil partnerships Parenthood Black History Month Respectful relationships (communication and vulnerability in relationships) Abusive relationships My future finances Sexual health and STIs Media Influence, Radicalisation and Extremism	Transition to more responsibility Careers Black History Month Appreciating diversity Exploring identities deeper (identity and mental health) Exploring identities critically (gender norms) Exploring identities critically (gender identities)

Spring Term

Year 10	Year 11
Careers First Give Program (Social Action Program)	Pornography Privacy and consent: developing sexuality and readiness for sex Sexual health and STIs Parenthood and fertility Pressure and dealing with rejection Grief

Summer Term

Year 10	Year 11
Knowing your rights Alcohol and drug misuse Cosmetic and plastic surgery First aid Organ donation, vaccines, and health clinics	Stress How to be successful in your GCSEs