PSHE

At St Cuthbert Mayne, PSHE is at the core of what we do and it is underpinned by our values and Catholic ethos. Our PSHE curriculum prepares our children to live and learn in a Catholic, Christian environment now and in the future. PSHE develops the qualities and attributes our children need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. Our PSHE programme aims for all children to build their capacity for learning and to equip them for life.

We believe that PSHE plays a vital part of Primary education and our Catholic values, therefore PSHE is taught discretely across the school. Teachers use ‘Jigsaw PSHE’ to support them with planning and are guided and supported by the PSHE and RE leads to adapt aspects of the programme to ensure it is in keeping with our Catholic ethos. During the year, children will focus on the six areas of Being Me, Celebrating Differences, Changing Me, Dreams and Goals, Healthy Me, and Relationships. Each year group will focus on a different aspect of the topic so that children gain a deeper understanding as they progress through the school.

Every PSHE lesson includes a ‘calm me’ activity, which helps children gain awareness of the activity in their minds, relaxing them and quietening their thoughts and emotions to a place of optimum learning capacity. This will also engender a peaceful atmosphere within the classroom. Throughout the lesson there are opportunities for the children to engage in discussion, as a whole class, with a partner or in a group. Although PSHE is taught discretely, links to PSHE are also made across the wider curriculum. Strong links are made to our learning in RE to support the children as Christians now and in the future. PSHE may also be taught in response to individual or class needs or specific eventualities, where teachers feel it is necessary.

We also engage in national themed weeks and days throughout the year for example; Anti-bullying week and Safer Internet Day. Where possible we also use outside agencies to enhance our children’s learning in PSHE for example: The NSPCC, Police, Fire Service, skipping, drumming and dancing workshops.

PSHE at St Cuthbert Mayne Children reflect on their learning and record a response in their PSHE book. The emphasis is on their understanding of the issues and how they might react to different situations. The PSHE lead monitors the impact of the PSHE curriculum through discussion with staff, pupil voice, and book looks.

RSE

‘Our belief in the unique dignity of the human person as made in the image and likeness of God underpins the approach to all education in our Catholic schools. To this end, RSE is rooted in the Catholic Church’s teaching of the human person and firmly embedded in the Religious Education framework as it is concerned primarily with nurturing the human wholeness of our pupils.’ Bishop Richard Moth, Bishop of Arundel and Brighton.

A Journey in Love’ is the RSE scheme (Relationship and Sex Education) that we use at St. Cuthbert Mayne Primary School. It is a resource created by Sister Jude Groden of BRES. It is the recommended programme of study for Catholic schools for Relationship and Sex Education, and has been written as a progressive scheme of work that supports the Religious Education, PSHE and Science curricula taught within the school.

As children progress through school, they discover more and more about themselves and the wider world. This thirst for learning new things in all aspects of life is fostered by the school, who attempt to create a safe, stimulating environment for learning; supporting all children in their development. Central to our work within our school is learning about our faith, including understanding ourselves, our position in our community and how we develop as human beings – our spiritual, social, emotional and physical development. This is how ‘A Journey in Love’ fits in to the school’s curriculum. The scheme permeates through all levels of learning throughout the school. It focuses on friendship, family, community, relationships and spirituality; a guide to the children’s development as young Catholics.

Not all issues related to personal development are covered by the end of Year 6. The content is age appropriate and is taught with sensitivity, taking into account the children’s level of maturity in regard to the delivery of the lessons. We will consult parents beforehand about the detailed content of what will be taught in school. This process will include offering parents support in talking to their children about sex education and how to link this with what is being taught in school.

As with all aspects of learning, children are naturally curious and many will have questions related to their lessons. Opportunities to discuss questions form part of the lessons and again these are treated with care and understanding. ‘A Journey in Love’ highlights the importance of parental input and children will be told to discuss their lessons at home.

As a parent, you have the right to withdraw your child from Sex Education at any time if you wish to do so however, this is not to be confused with the topics around growing and life cycles within the Science curriculum which is a statutory requirement.

PSHE Curriculum Map - RSE Curriculum Map - find our more about your child's learning in PHSE and RSE throughout their time at St. Cuthbert Mayne.