KS4 Curriculum
OUR PSHE CURRICULUM
What is PSHE?
PSHE stands for Personal, Social, Health, and Economic education. It’s a curriculum subject in schools across the UK that aims to support students in developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to lead healthy, safe, and productive lives. The Department for Education said "evidence shows that PSHE education can improve the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of pupils. Pupils with better health and wellbeing achieve better academically”.
PSHE at orion eden park
Vision
The PSHE curriculum provides a focused, coherent and carefully sequenced programme across KS3–5 that supports pupils in developing the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to navigate the critical issues they face now and to make informed, responsible decisions about their future. It fully integrates statutory guidance for Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), ensuring learning is age-appropriate, inclusive and accurate. PSHE is delivered within a safe, respectful and supportive environment, enabling pupils to engage confidently in sensitive and complex topics. As a key component of personal development, PSHE plays a proactive role in safeguarding through education by equipping pupils to recognise risk, make safe choices and seek appropriate support. As stated by the Department for Education, “evidence shows that PSHE education can improve the physical and psychosocial wellbeing of pupils. Pupils with better health and wellbeing achieve better academically”, a principle that underpins our approach.
PSHE big ideas - KS3, KS4 and KS5
Respectful Communities
Respectful Communities are safe environments where each person in the community is respected as a unique and contributing member. These are cohesive communities where people can tackle problems, provide mutual support and to work together for a positive future free from discrimination, prejudice, or intolerance. This might be local, national, or international communities.
Careers and Ambition
Developing important interpersonal, enterprise and study skills to thrive in education and the workplace, to prepare for important events like GCSE options, work experience and application processes for post-16 and university and assess different career pathways and employment rights and responsibilities.
Healthy Relationships
Healthy relationships are relationships that are respectful, stable, healthy, and joyful. There are a variety of different types of relationships including romantic, friendships, and relationships with family. Managing conflict, identifying unhealthy behaviours, understanding how to seek support for abuse, and judging readiness for intimacy are important aspects of forming healthy and stable relationships. Understanding sexual health, the meaning of consent, and methods of contraception will also be important aspects of developing healthy relationships and preparing for sexual activity.
Online Safety
Being aware of online dangers like grooming, cyberbullying, sharing indecent imagery, social media, extremism, and developing strategies we can use to stay safe online, challenge online hate, build digital resilience and maintain a positive online presence.
Health and Wellbeing
Focuses on the importance of our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. This includes understanding changes in our physical and mental health that can occur with puberty and the potential impacts, how to deal with challenges to our mental health, taking responsibility for our physical health and knowing potential dangers to health like vaping, alcohol, and drugs and how to protect your health.
Risk and Safety
Risk and safety is about understanding potential risks and understanding how to protect yourself and remain safe. Potential risks cover road traffic, drugs, alcohol, vaping, peer pressure and involvement in gangs. Understanding how to make positive financial decisions for the future, through assessing potential financial risks, what makes products good value for money, the benefits of savings accounts and understanding how to effectively budget.
Embedding our Core Values:
Trust
PSHE develops trust by promoting open communication, honesty and responsibility. Pupils learn the importance of integrity, accountability and making responsible choices, even when these are difficult. Through learning about boundaries and consent, pupils understand how to respect others and build safe, respectful relationships, contributing to a culture of trust and safeguarding.
Kindness
PSHE promotes kindness by developing empathy and helping pupils understand the impact of their actions on others. Through learning about relationships, community and wellbeing, pupils are encouraged to build positive, respectful connections and challenge unkind behaviour. This supports a safe, inclusive environment and encourages pupils to contribute positively to their school and wider community.
Endeavour
PSHE fosters endeavour by promoting resilience, perseverance and a growth mindset. Pupils are supported to set goals, overcome challenges and take responsibility for their personal development. Through developing self-discipline, motivation and problem-solving skills, pupils learn the value of effort and determination in achieving success.
PSHE at KS3 and 4
orion pshe curriculum ks3 4.pdf
PSHE at KS5
orion pshe curriculum ks5 1 .pdf
PSHE Assemblies
PSHE Cross Curricular Map
orion pshe cross curricular map.pdf