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Bury CE High School

BURY CE HIGH SCHOOL
A Church of England Academy with the vision to empower all students to let their light shine.

PSHCE

Departmental Vision

PSHCE education forms the foundation of a child’s understanding of life beyond the classroom. At the heart of our PSHCE curriculum is the school’s vision of ‘Let your light shine,’ inspiring our students to grow into respectful, responsible, and resilient individuals who contribute positively to society. By fostering a clear understanding of fundamental British values and equality, we empower students to make informed decisions and take responsible actions in their lives.

Our PSHCE curriculum is designed to help students understand themselves as unique individuals in the eyes of God, while celebrating the rich diversity and complexities of the world around them. We encourage students to embrace a positive mindset and strive to be the best versions of themselves as they mature into adulthood. This curriculum engages students in exploring complex and sensitive issues, allowing them to reflect on their own ideas and beliefs, while offering a safe space to express themselves.

The ultimate aim of our PSHCE curriculum is to enable students to shine in all that they do, developing into well-rounded individuals capable of tackling life’s challenges. Through social action and a commitment to excellence, our students are equipped to support others and make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

Curriculum Design

The PSHCE curriculum is structured around six key pillars of knowledge that evolve in depth and complexity over time, blending both declarative and procedural learning. This responsive curriculum is designed to adapt and build upon students' previous understanding, ensuring that each student’s learning journey is progressive and relevant to their experiences and needs.

At the core of our curriculum design are the school’s values of Respect, Responsibility, and Resilience, which serve as the foundation for fostering an environment where every student can thrive and express their potential. The curriculum integrates three essential disciplines - Relationship, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), Citizenship, and Careers - delivered through a spiralled approach. This ensures that new knowledge is continuously built on what students have already learned, reinforcing their understanding over time.

The six key pillars that underpin the curriculum are:

  1. Health and Wellbeing: Covering topics such as drugs, vaping, nicotine, and alcohol education, mental and emotional wellbeing, managing risk, personal safety, and sexual health.
  2. Relationships and Sex Education: Exploring themes like recognising positive and unhealthy relationships, consent versus coercion, social influences on behaviour, contraception, parenthood and families, bullying, abuse, and discrimination.
  3. Living in the Wider World: Focused on career choices and pathways, learning skills, employment rights and responsibilities, financial decision-making, media literacy, and digital resilience.
  4. Being British: Examining political systems within the UK, British Values, the rights and liberties of UK citizens (including Human Rights and Equality), responsibilities as British citizens, the justice system, and local communities.
  5. Global Britain: Investigating different political systems, the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the role of the European Court, the United Nations, the EU, Brexit, migration, and asylum.
  6. Active Citizenship: Encouraging students to contribute to their local, national, and global communities through social action.

To further enrich their learning, our PSHCE curriculum is text-rich, drawing on literature from the school’s reading program and English GCSE texts. These resources serve as a springboard for meaningful discussions around personal development, allowing students to engage critically with real-world issues. Through this approach, we ensure that the PSHCE curriculum remains dynamic, responsive to students' needs, and deeply relevant to their lives and the world around them.

PSHCE Curriculum Intent 

Knowledge Organisers

 

Extra Curricular Activities

Youth Cabinet – discussing issues which affect young people in Bury

Archbishop of York Young Leaders Award – carrying out a set of leadership challenges within the community that “serve others” in Year 7&8.

School Council – discussing issues that affect our pupils and campaigning for change.

Charities Group – this is a sub group of the School Council which works tirelessly to raise money for charities both locally and nationally. We also volunteer in the community to help contribute as active citizens.

Careers Club – this weekly lunchtime club hosts talks from employers about their careers as well as offering support to students with career exploration, college applications, CV writing, securing work experience etc.