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PHSCE

Overview

PHSCE is distinctive in the curriculum as it is an opportunity to consider seriously the values, attitudes, opinions and actions of others, and ourselves in a framework which expects no academic measures or outcomes, sets no homework and has no exams.
Old Buckenham Hall’s policy on Social, Spiritual, Moral and Cultural Learning sets three aims within the context of the School’s ethos:

  • Lead pupils towards becoming confident and positive contributors to their community
  • Enable pupils to gain insights into the origins and practices of our culture and those of the wider community
  • Take steps to ensure pupils appreciate racial and cultural diversity and avoid and resist racism

The Purpose of PHSCE

PHSCE is a lifelong process for pupils of learning, refining and making sense of themselves as individuals, their relationships with others and the society in which they live.

It is a process within which pupils may learn to:

  • Examine the values that underpin and inform their attitudes and behaviors
  • Reflect upon past experiences and consider the choices for future action
  • Identify areas for personal growth
  • Acknowledge the positive aspects of themselves and challenge the negative

Old Buckenham Hall aims to give pupils opportunities to identify their personal and social development needs beyond the taught curriculum by:

  • Engaging in conversation in small groups
  • Talking to a member of staff within tutorial provision
  • Making collaborative decisions within the School Council

PHSCE aims to enhance pupils’ development by making them aware of:

  • The School’s values and social aims
  • The School’s Sex Education Policy
  • Substance Misuse/Use
  • Citizenship issues in the UK
  • Equal Opportunities – Gender, Race, Disability, Sexuality
  • Child Protection, Confidentiality, Bullying

Pupils are encouraged to reflect on their learning with reference to:

  • Their contribution to the school and their own needs within that
  • Their life outside school and the contribution this makes to their personal and social development
  • Their own contribution to groups outside school

Personal Wellbeing

As part of PHSCE, all pupils take one module of Well-being to equip them with some of the skills they will need to lead flourishing lives. The skills that are taught emanate not only from recent research in Psychology but also from centuries of reflection on what it means to be human. We consider it vital not only that pupils spend time developing their academic talents, but that they learn about being human and how they can best make use of the potential they have.

The Well-being course is made up of 6 strands, which are covered over the course of the child’s time at OBH:

  • 1) Physical health
  • 2) Positive relationships
  • 3) Perspective: building a psychological immune system
  • 4) Strengths: finding talents and character strengths
  • 5) The world: learning to lead sustainable lives in a consumer culture
  • 6) Meaning and purpose: what does life hold in store? The pre-eminent focus of this course is on what a flourishing human life looks like.

How is PHSCE taught?

Within PSHE lessons, children from Year 1 to Year 6 are taught about Relationships Education.  This includes teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships, with particular reference to friendships, family relationships, and relationships with other children and with adults.

This starts with pupils being taught about what a relationship is, what friendship is, what family means and who the people are who can support them. Building on children’s early education, pupils are taught about how to take turns, how to treat each other with kindness, consideration and respect, the importance of honesty and truthfulness, permission seeking and giving, and the concept of personal privacy.  Relationships Education is not taught exclusively in PSHE lessons – these concepts are incorporated within The OBH Way and many other curriculum subjects in the school. 

Within PSHE lessons for children in Year 7 and Year 8, pupils are taught about Relationships and Sex Education.  Lessons build on the knowledge acquired and further pupils’ understanding of health, with an increased focus on risk areas such as drugs and alcohol, as well as introducing knowledge about intimate relationships.  Children discuss how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.  We recognise that young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. Lessons aim to foster pupil wellbeing and develop resilience and character that we know are fundamental to pupils being happy, successful and productive members of society.

In addition to a weekly timetabled lesson with their Form Teacher, the themes of PHSCE are integrated throughout the school in other subjects, in assemblies and on a formal basis. In addition, Monday evenings are World of Work Talk evenings where members of a wide range of professions are invited in to talk to our senior children. Recent guest speakers have included, surgeons, charity workers, Managing Directors, Event Co-ordinators and a jewellery design and manufacturer.