Personal, Social & Health Education

Miss D Owen - Head of PSHE

PSHE stands for Personal, Social, Health and Economic education. Lessons are delivered once a week to all Year groups from 7 to 11. Within PSHE lessons, Sex and Relationships Education, Drugs Education, Citizenship, Personal Finance and Careers Education are taught.

PSHE is a planned programme of learning opportunities and experiences that help young people grow and develop as individuals, as members of families and of social and economic communities. This contributes to children living healthier, safer lifestyles and helps young people make informed choices around sex and relationships, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, money, employment and enterprise. PSHE makes a major contribution to the Every Child Matters five outcomes for young people and contributes to the school’s statutory responsibility to promote wellbeing in children and young people, as set out in The Children Act 2004 and The Education and Inspections Act 2006. There is also a strong relationship between PSHE education and the DCSF’s Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL) programme. PSHE contributes to achieving the aims of the whole curriculum and to promoting community cohesion.

Citizenship

At present, citizenship is part of the compulsory National Curriculum for 11-16 year olds and will be covered within PSHE lessons and across the curriculum, in all subject areas within the school. Education for citizenship equips young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding to play an effective role in public life. Students learn about their rights, responsibilities, duties and freedoms about laws, justice and democracy. They learn how to take part in decision-making and play an active role in the life of the school, neighbourhood, community and wider society as active and global citizens.

Citizenship develops successful learners who are equipped to play a full part in public life. It gives learners the ability to engage critically with challenging questions facing society today and to work independently and collaboratively to plan and undertake action, to try to make a difference in their communities and in society. The aim of developing successful learners who are literate, numerate, enterprising and enquiring is at the heart of citizenship.

A central purpose of citizenship is to develop students’ as confident individuals. Students should develop the confidence to participate in debates, to build an understanding of their own identity, to engage with and listen to others as they consider different viewpoints, actions, decisions, values and beliefs.

Citizenship inspires students to think about how their decisions and actions can make a difference. They will engage with a wide range of political, social and ethical dilemmas, issues such as world resources, sustainability, inequalities, human rights and international conflict. They will be encouraged to challenge ideas, policies, behaviours and actions with which they disagree, developing them as responsible citizens.

Sex and Relationship Education

As a parent or carer, you are central to your child’s education about sex and relationships. The school aims to complement you in this role and has developed SRE programmes, taking account of government guidance and statutory requirements, supporting young people through their physical, emotional and moral development. On entrance to Year 7, parents will have the opportunity to discuss the SRE elements to be taught and any concerns you may have.

Careers

Careers Education at Tarleton is delivered to all Year groups 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 through PSHE lessons which are given once a week. Lesson activities are varied and engaging to deliver Careers Education, including the use of the Real Game, which involves the exploration of career paths and challenges in the working world.

We have strong connections with Lancashire Youth Service, who provide advice and guidance on Post 16 opportunities. Years 10 and 11 have the opportunity to attend Taster Days at Colleges and Sixth Form Centres around Lancashire and we have regular visits from their representatives, who are available for students to chat to during careers drop in sessions at lunch time. During this time, the Careers Library will be available for students to make use of and there are many websites and computer packages (Kudos) for students to use to help with their future decisions.

Once a year, we hold on Options Evening for parents and students of Year 9 to help with their subject choices and a Post 16 Evening for Year 11 students and parents to help with decisions for their next steps after Tarleton. During these events, many of the local Colleges, Sixth Form Centres, Lancashire Young People’s Service, Public Services, Armed Forces and local businesses attend for parents and students to talk to about entry requirements and what they have to offer for our students.

Year 10 students have the opportunity to attend a two week Work Experience placement of their choice, which students often find very enjoyable and helpful in gaining an insight into the world of work. This helps create opportunities for themselves when they leave school and helps them to make decisions about future career choices.