Subject Leader: Ms E Moore – emoore@knoleacademy.org
Intent
The Relevance curriculum at Knole Academy encompasses all statutory teaching of PSHE and RSHE. It is within these lessons that our student’s understanding of their lives beyond the classroom will be developed.
We want our students to leave the academy ready with the knowledge and skills to allow them to be successful adults in the modern world – understanding how to live in the wider world, what it is to be healthy, and what different relationships they can find when they enter their lives beyond school.
Implementation
At Knole Academy, we are committed to providing a comprehensive and engaging Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE) curriculum that empowers our students to navigate the challenges of the present and prepare for a successful future. Our Relevance Curriculum covers all the statutory PSHE content, structured around three core themes: Health & Wellbeing, Relationships and Living in the Wider World.
These themes are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and understanding necessary to thrive both in school and beyond.
Health & Wellbeing
The Health & Wellbeing consists of learning tools that positively impact students’ physical and mental health. Through this theme, students explore topics such as road safety, mental health, the effects of smoking and alcohol and stress management. This theme aims to equip students with the skills to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing, both now and in the future.
Relationships
The Relationships theme explores the wide range of interpersonal connections that students will experience throughout their lives. We aim to equip students with the tools they need to build healthy, respectful, and positive relationships. Topics covered include family relationships, romantic relationships, friendship and peer pressure and conflict resolution. By exploring these areas, we aim to ensure students understand the importance of healthy relationships in all aspects of their lives.
Living in the Wider World
The Living in the Wider World theme provides students with essential skills and knowledge for managing life outside of school, preparing them for adulthood and citizenship. Key topics in this theme include financial literacy, social media and digital literacy and careers and future planning. This theme ensures that students are well-prepared to manage the practical challenges of life, while also developing a strong sense of responsibility as global citizens.
Impact
PSHE/RSE in Each Stage
Our foundation curriculum at Knole Academy sets students up to be well-rounded individuals with a broader understanding of the world that they live in beyond what they already know. We are continuing to prepare the students for life in the modern world but are ensuring that the topics that we cover are most relevant to the ages of the students in this key stage.
Topics could include transition to secondary school, first aid, teamwork, anti-bullying, puberty, healthy routines, friendships, relationships, boundaries, financial choices, and careers (linked to options).
Continuing with the themes taught in KS3, we ensure that the teaching is appropriate to the ages that we are teaching. These foundational years for teenagers will help to guide them through the difficulties that they could face.
Topics could include mental health, the impact of gambling, the positives and negatives of relationships, self-management, the influence of drugs and alcohol, the impact of the media, sex education, etc. STDs and pregnancy.
In key stage 5, we continue the three themes that we have covered in KS3 and KS4 to ensure that there is continuity. What students should see with the curriculum here is that there is further relevance to the lives that they are now leading and to prepare them even more so for life in the modern world, including the next steps towards independence.
Topics could include lifestyle choices, careers including CVs and employability, relationships and sex including consent, unplanned pregnancy, safe sex, alcohol and drug education, living in a wider society, financial responsibility, health checks, digital impact, respectful relationships including consent.
Enrichment and Extra-curricular Activities
When appropriate the Relevance Curriculum team will bring in guest speakers to talk to our students about the topics that we cover in their curriculum time. This has included: road safety from the KCC, having safer sex with some of our district nurses, we have also had the police in to discuss personal safety including safety online and the consequences of actions.
PSHE/RSE Extra Resources
Extra Resource
- Kent School Health – We support children and young people aged four to nineteen, including those who do not attend school
- YoungMinds – If you’re struggling with your feelings, you’re not alone! We have loads of practical tips and advice from young people just like you, as well as information on getting the support you need.
- The Grand – We work across Gravesham offering free exercise classes, help to find a job, lessons in using tech, mental health support and much more.
- EHMF – Mental Health support for young people
For more information about careers and helpful resources, please visit the Careers and Life Skills page.