At River Tees Hospital School, we teach Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE) alongside Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) to equip our pupils with the essential knowledge, skills, and attributes needed to navigate their lives now and in the future. This dynamic curriculum responds thoughtfully to both local and national issues, providing vital support and guidance that empower pupils to make healthy, informed choices across all aspects of their lives.
While core subjects like Maths and English remain fundamental, PSHE and RSE form the heart of our educational framework, fostering a safe, inclusive environment where pupils can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our universal PSHE/RSE curriculum ensures that all pupils engage with the key topics and objectives outlined by the PSHE Association and comply fully with the Department for Education’s statutory RSE guidelines.
All Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 pupils participate in weekly PSHE lessons, during which our team works closely with Designated Safeguarding Leads to address relevant local community issues and signpost pupils to appropriate support services. For older pupils at KS4 and Post-16, lessons cover critical areas such as healthy relationships, financial literacy, racism, democracy, the rule of law, equality, and diversity, ensuring a broad, balanced, and meaningful curriculum.
Beyond lessons, assemblies and whole-school events, such as Macmillan Coffee Morning and Comic Relief, enhance the curriculum by creating additional opportunities for discussion and reflection aligned with PSHE/RSE goals. Our teaching methods are varied and engaging, including whole-class instruction, group work, independent activities, drama, role play, and discussions. Sensitive topics are handled with care, with pastoral staff present to provide extra support when needed.
We also invite external visitors from local charities and organisations to enrich pupils’ understanding of British Values and offer expert guidance on relevant issues. Our assessment approach is flexible and sensitive, involving pre- and post-topic assessments to identify focus areas and track pupil progress. Throughout lessons, targeted questioning helps to address misconceptions and supports the development of oracy skills alongside essential life learning knowledge.
This comprehensive PSHE and RSE provision ensures that pupils at River Tees Hospital School are supported holistically, enabling them to build resilience, confidence, and the skills necessary to lead healthy, responsible, and fulfilling lives.
