RSE Curriculum Overview
Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Curriculum Intent
Overview
Our RSE curriculum intent is to provide students with meaningful learning experiences that will equip them with the skills required to live healthy, safe, productive and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future. As a school we are committed to delivering this RSE curriculum in line with statutory guidance, whilst also ensuring that we work positively with our families and community so that we deliver it with transparency, with integrity, and in a way that is academically rigorous in line with the rest of our curriculum. The RSE curriculum fully supports the Putteridge High School ethos of embracing equality and diversity, cohesion and inclusion and showing respect for others.
What is RSE
Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health.
Why is RSE important?
RSE provides students with the knowledge, skills, and values to have safe, responsible, and respectful relationships. This curriculum enables students to take ownership of their holistic well-being.
RSE at Putteridge High School
At Putteridge High School, we deliver RSE through PSHCRE lessons, Assemblies, and the form-time curriculum. We encourage students to engage in such learning with confidence and respect for others' points of view. By providing all our students at Putteridge High School with a FIRST CLASS learning environment, we can develop meaningful and informative discussions with students by setting and maintaining clear boundaries and high expectations. We emphasise the importance of not sharing personal information throughout these discussions but ask that students be curious about the topics covered during the RSE curriculum.
Our RSE curriculum development is driven by proven high-quality resources that meet the PSHE Association's quality standards. The scheme of work has been extensively researched and carefully explored in depth to ensure that age-appropriate materials that will be used are well-matched to meet the needs of all our pupils at Putteridge High School. As with all teaching and learning, the school will conduct lessons in a safe, trusting and secure environment.
The guidance, which details what schools are expected to teach, and what children should learn before they leave secondary school can be found here.
Stage by stage, Year by Year
KS3
Year 7
In year 7, students will focus on how to build positive and maintain healthy friendships with their peers. Additionally, it highlights the importance of respect in such relationships. Online safety is introduced, showcasing the skills and information needed to be a positive internet citizen. Finally, at the end of the year, they learn about looking after their bodies during puberty, including managing emotions and menstruation.
RSE Topics include: -Healthy friendships, Showing respect, E- safety (fake news, misconceptions in the media, being a good internet citizen), Puberty, and Menstruation.
Lesson resource: Puberty facts and myths
Year 8
In year 8, students will focus on managing their mental well-being whilst recognising where to get support for those struggling with mental health. Students learn about the difference between sex and gender identity. They explore the themes of gender stereotyping, labelling, prejudice and discrimination whilst learning to look for opportunities to challenge prejudice and discrimination. Furthermore, students discuss how romantic relationships in the media are portrayed and investigate the validity of such relationships. Leading on how to manage harmful online content and where to find the necessary support. Highlighting the importance of consent. Diving into the issues and law based on Female Genital Mutilation. Finally, ending the year with the rights and responsibilities of parenthood.
RSE Topics include Managing mental well-being, challenging gender stereotyping, and E-safety (managing harmful digital content and relationships on screen), Relationship red flags, FGM, consent, families, marriage, rights and responsibilities of parenthood
Year 9
In year 9 students will gain a deep understanding of the impacts of prejudice on LGBTQ+ people. They understand that prejudging LGBTQ+ people is a form of prejudice equivalent to all other types, for example, racism. Additionally, students will investigate the importance of consent in healthy friendships and provide examples of where consent should always be given. Finally, year 9 students will obtain clear knowledge on the misconceptions of masturbation, whilst exploring safe sex and Sexually Transmitted Infections, and alternative measures to pregnancy.
RSE topics include: LGTBQ+, Consent, Masturbation, STI’s, Contraception, Pregnancy, adoption and abortion
Key Stage 4
Year 10
In year 10 students will explore the importance of respectful intimate relationships and building on their knowledge of unhealthy relationships from previous years. Students will be aware of the signs of Domestic abuse and coercive control, whilst informing them on the support that is out there for such people. Furthermore, year 10 students will investigate the dangers and warning signs of Child Sexual and Child Criminal Exploitation (CSE AND CCE). Moreover, continuing their journey into staying safe online; discussing the law behind ‘sexting’ and sending ‘nudes’. Ending the year examining the widespread issue of ‘honour based violence’.
RSE topics include: Domestic violence, Unhealthy relationship and coercive control, grooming, Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation (CSE and CCE), sexting, honour based violence, respectful relationships and intimacy
Year 11
Finally at Putteridge Year 11 students end their RSE journey by gaining further knowledge on the importance of consent and the law. Investigating how to navigate and manage their way through changing relationships and friendships after secondary school. Finally, students will be able to address the misconceptions around the expectations on sexual relationships.
RSE topics include: Changes in relationships, navigating through relationships, recognising consent, normal sex vs expectation
Lesson resource: Relationships
Parental Consultation
We acknowledge that it is imperative to consult with parents and provide information openly and transparently. To that end, we would like to invite you to view the following key documents:
- To read a copy of our Draft Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy please click here.
- To view our RSE Curriculum Parental Consultation Presentation please click here.
- To view RSE FAQs please click here.
Additional Information
We understand that Parents, Guardians, and Carers are the central people in teaching their children about relationships, sex, and growing up. Thus, you may find the following resources helpful when talking to your children about the topics they have covered.
We acknowledge that it is imperative to consult with parents and provide information in an open and transparent way and to that end we would like to invite you to view the following key documents:
- To read a copy of our Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy please click here.
- To view our RSE Curriculum Parental Consultation Presentation, please click here.
- To view RSE FAQs please click here.
Further Information
We understand that Parents, Guardians, and Carers are the central people in teaching their children about relationships, sex, and growing up. Thus, you may find the following resources helpful when talking to your children about the topics they have covered.