Citizenship and Personal, Social and Health Education

The aim of our Citizenship and Personal, Social and Health Education Policy is to give young people the knowledge with which to make informed choices about their lifestyle. However, we must remember that they would have difficulty in responding to this information without the necessary skills to help them. Our school adopts a flexible but structured approach to all areas of the curriculum, including this important one. This school seeks to develop skills within the whole school environment and the community at large, so that patterns of relationships are established and values developed. This is encouraged by the personal example of teachers and other adults working in the school and by the self-esteem fostered by the school among its pupils.

Personal, Social and Health Education continues throughout the school, frequently drawing on the expertise of the School Nurse who works in partnership with the class teacher. The Governing Body has decided that Year 5 pupils will have access to a planned programme of sex education in the summer term prior to transferring to middle school. Parents are given the opportunity to withdraw their child from this programme should they wish to do so. The subject is treated sensitively, yet honestly, and aims to prepare pupils to cope with the physical and emotional changes of puberty. The Key Stage Two curriculum also covers alcohol and drug misuse.

The sex education programme reflects the school ethos and demonstrates and fosters the following values:

Respect for self

Respect for others

Respect for own action

Responsibility for family, friends, school and the wider community.

We believe that children will learn these values through many aspects of school life; in particular through the school's positive behaviour, play routines, assemblies and structures requiring older pupils to take responsibility for younger pupils, during lunchtimes and shared reading.