The focus of education and development of the whole child is essential to ensuring pupils are prepared for life and enabled to learn, grow and become the best they can be. We want our children to flourish and to gain every opportunity to live fulfilled lives.

As a Church of England school, we will teach within a framework of Christian values and the Christian understanding that sex is a gift of God as part of creation. Whilst we use relationships and sex education to inform children about sexual issues, we do this with regard to matters of morality and individual responsibility, and in a way that allows children to ask and explore moral questions. 

Sensitivity and respect will be shown to all children when teaching about personal relationships and sex education, with RSE being taught in a way that ensures there is no stigmatisation of children based on their home / personal circumstances.  

Our RSE teaching and learning is set within a context that is consistent with the school’s Christian ethos and values:  

• It is based on inclusive Christian principles and values emphasising respect, compassion, loving care and forgiveness.  
• It is taught in the light of the belief in the absolute worth of all people and the unconditional infinite love of God.  
• It reflects that sex is a gift from God: a human longing for an intimate union.  
• It is sensitive to the circumstances of all children and is mindful of the expressions of family life in our culture, yet it should also uphold the Christian values regarding relationships and marriage.  
• The exploration of reproduction and sexual behaviour within the science curriculum should stand alongside the exploration of relationships, values and morals and Christian belief.   

Intent

Our recently updated PSHE & RSE curriculum aims to give children the knowledge, skills and attitudes that they need to effectively navigate the complexities of life in the 21st Century. Our focus is on building healthy attitudes and positive relationships in an environment where difference is celebrated and everyone is included and valued for who they are. We are educating our children to live in the real world with all its contradictions. They will learn how to build strong and supportive relationships, how to keep themselves safe in various situations and how to make thoughtful decisions about money, health and the online world.

Our curriculum covers key areas which will support children to make informed choices now and in the future around their health, safety, wellbeing, relationships, and financial matters and will support them in becoming confident individuals and active members of society. Pupils may receive mixed messages about these topics from friends, siblings, social media and the wider world. High-quality RSE & PSHE ensures every child receives clear, accurate and age-appropriate teaching so they can make safe and informed choices as they grow.

The RSE/PSHE scheme of work that we follow covers the Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education statutory guidance (as set out by the Department for Education in July 2025) and aligns with the requirement of the National curriculum (2014) that schools ‘should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE).’ The scheme contributes to their personal development and promotes the four fundamental British values which reflect life in modern Britain: democracy; rule of law; respect and tolerance and individual liberty. In response to the child-on-child abuse updates to Section 5 of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), our curriculum introduces and revisits ideas of personal boundaries, consent and communicating our boundaries with others. This prepares our pupils for the challenges and responsibilities they will face in the future.

Implementation

Our whole school approach is organised into clear key areas which structure learning and support meaningful progression. Knowledge is built through a spiral curriculum model, with key concepts revisited, deepened and applied over time. This supports long-term retention and helps pupils make connections across areas of learning. The key areas are:

• My healthy self
• Connecting with others
• The online world
• Staying safe
• Health protection
• Growing up
• Citizenship (non-statutory)

The core key areas — My healthy self, Connecting with others, The online world and Staying safe — are taught every year. This allows pupils across the school to focus on similar themes at the same time, supporting whole-school planning and reinforcement.

While there is natural overlap between areas, organising learning in this way provides a clear structure and helps pupils make connections between knowledge, skills and real-life contexts.

Alongside subject knowledge, the curriculum develops four key strands that run throughout:

• Self-regulation
• Managing self
• Building relationships
• Critical thinking

The first three strands are rooted in the EYFS Framework and extended through KS1 and KS2. Critical thinking is introduced to support pupils in questioning information, particularly online, and making informed, responsible decisions.

Together, these strands ensure pupils develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to manage themselves, relate positively to others and engage thoughtfully with the world.

A range of teaching and learning activities, alongside multi-sensory approaches, are used to ensure that all pupils can access the PSHE/RSE curriculum and make progress. In Key Stages 1 and 2, each year begins with an introductory lesson in which pupils and teachers establish shared ground rules and expectations. These can be revisited throughout the year to help maintain a safe, respectful and supportive learning environment.

Lessons provide opportunities for pupils to explore real-life and current issues in a safe and structured way. A consistent lesson structure is followed, including retrieval of prior learning, an engaging introduction, the main learning activity and time for reflection. This familiarity helps pupils focus on the learning rather than adapting to new routines or expectations. In Reception, the lesson structure is adapted to reflect the ways young children learn, using developmentally appropriate approaches that support the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and early development.

 Impact

The impact of the curriculum is evident in pupils' growing knowledge, understanding, and confidence in applying their learning in real-life situations. Assessment within the scheme is supportive and formative, using assessment guidance in every lesson to identify if pupils have met the desired learning intentions. Ongoing assessment opportunities, such as questioning, retrieval practice and interactive activities allow teachers to assess understanding in real-time and adjust their teaching accordingly.

Knowledge organisers and assessment quizzes, which can be used at the beginning and end of each unit, help measure progress and identify gaps in learning, enabling responsive planning and targeted support where needed. The use of a "Knowledge Catcher" allows pupils to demonstrate their learning journey by recording what they know before and after a unit, making progress visible over time.

By the end of the scheme, pupils will have met the statutory requirements for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), and Health Education as set out by the Department for Education. They will be equipped to apply their learning in everyday life, from managing friendships and developing resilience to making healthy choices and knowing where and how to seek help when needed.

As they progress through the curriculum, pupils should demonstrate increasing confidence in expressing their feelings, asking for support and making informed decisions. They develop greater self-awareness and emotional literacy, helping them to build resilience and navigate challenges and change effectively.