PSHCE, SMSC and LIMB
PSHCE at Sutton Community Academy has been designed as a ‘curriculum for life’ as members of the Youth Parliament term it, where trained teachers deliver a curriculum which prepares students for life, their relationships, health and work in a modern changing world.
The Equality Act 2010 places duties on schools not just to address prejudice-based bullying but also to help to prevent it happening, and in doing so to keep protected characteristic groups safe.
PSHCE education, with its focus on identity and equality, can help schools to fulfil this duty.
Our aim is to “help students stay safe, promote their physical and emotional health; develop character, resilience and skills they need to succeed academically and in the workplace” (PSHE Education).
PSHCE has a specific one hour lesson for all students in years 7, 8 and 9 and shared time with Ethics and Philosophy in year 10. Our year 11 PSHCE direct provision is with a collapsed day. However, PSHCE/RSE/WRL within the over-arching SMSC/LIMB is added to a good range of ‘off timetable days’ including trips out such as Beth Shalom and Celebration of Culture Days for year 7, 8 & 9 and cross-curriculum events such as Red Nose Day, Children in Need, HIV/AIDs Awareness and Holocaust Memorial Day. We also include PSHCE/SMSC/LIMB throughout our tutor programme and we regularly have theatre performances and workshops during lesson times. Year 10 students also have two weeks work experience and a mock interview day and all year 11, 12 & 13 students have the opportunity for individual careers interviews.
In addition, while we appreciate that much SMSC/LIMB is found in PSHCE lessons/tutor sessions; all subjects contribute in a range of ways as documented by our mapping activity. We have taken the four principal British values of democracy, rules of law, tolerance and respect and extended into what we believe are central values and expectations for a student at Sutton Community Academy.
PSHCE and RSE Practices and Procedures
All of our policies for PSHCE / RSE can be found here.
Right of withdrawal
In 2020 the government introduced statutory requirements to the PSHCE curriculum for Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). This has made some aspects of what we teach compulsory. During PSHCE lessons students in Years 7 – 11 will be covering, amongst other topics, aspects of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE).
- Parents will not be able to withdraw their child from any aspect of Relationships Education or Health Education.
- Parents will be able to withdraw their child (following discussion with the school) from any or all aspects of Sex Education, other than those which are part of the science curriculum, up to and until three term before the age of 16.
Right to withdraw from RE
RE is for all students and every student is entitled to an RE education as part of a broad and balanced curriculum.
Parents/carers have the right to withdraw their children from RE on the grounds that they wish to provide their own RE. This will be the parents responsibility.
Please write to the Principal if you are considering withdrawing your child from any of the above.
Any queries regarding PSHCE can be directed to our PSHCE Lead, Mrs M. Dymond via email: marie.dymond@attrust.org.uk.
