PSHE

PSHE and wellbeing at Harriers Banbury Academy

Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

At Harriers Banbury Academy, we understand the importance of equipping our pupils to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society. Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE), alongside Relationships and Health Education (RSE) and teaching around Mental Wellbeing provides pupils with the knowledge and skills to achieve this. It helps them to develop both personally and socially, whilst also tackling moral, social and cultural issues faced by pupils growing up in today’s climate.

We aim for pupils to: develop healthy and safe friendships and relationships, both now and in their future lives; self-regulate emotions; keep mentally healthy; build self-efficacy; and keep themselves physically safe and healthy.

By being part of the Harriers Banbury Academy community, the pupils are part of a diverse school family. We provide our pupils with opportunities to learn about rights and responsibilities, whilst developing an appreciation of what it means to be part of a diverse society. We encourage all pupils to develop self-worth by playing an active, positive role within our school.

We take pride in our surroundings, and so the pupils are taught to understand the importance of being a caring global citizen. We promote the need to take care of, respect and protect our environment so that it can be enjoyed by all.

Our whole-school curriculum threads are:

1. Me and my relationships
2. Valuing difference
3. Keeping safe
4. Rights and respect
5. Being my best
6. Growing and changing

Implementation

To ensure all of our pupils develop a secure understanding of the curriculum outlined, we have designed an extensive and progressive curriculum from Nursery through to Year 6. PSHE is taught through explicit lessons once a week, using the SCARF Coram Life Education scheme of work.

The SCARF curriculum covers the Relationships and Health Education statutory guidance (as set out by the Department for Education). The lessons also include the PSHE learning themes, in line with the requirements of the National Curriculum. Children’s learning through the SCARF scheme contributes towards their wider Personal Development, as set out in the Ofsted Inspection Framework. It also promotes British Values, which reflect life in modern Britain, and contributes towards our duty of care with regards to safeguarding.

Our behaviour policy forms the foundations of our school climate and culture. We place huge importance on teaching pupils the skill of self-regulation, and so we use the ‘Zones of Regulation’ to ensure a consistent language around emotions across the school. This provides a framework for staff to support pupils with their mental and emotional wellbeing. At Harriers Banbury Academy, we acknowledge how others are feeling and aim to build a positive mind set to tackle challenges when they arise. We use Restorative Practice principles to encourage pupils to learn from mistakes, understand the impact of our behaviour on others and to work together to find solutions to problems.

Harriers Banbury Academy is also part of the SCIB (Safeguarding Children in Banbury) group. Through this network, we ensure pupils are taught in a child-friendly way about any local safeguarding issues, such as substance misuse, child exploitation and internet safety. These sessions are taught every other term, with the content regularly updated to ensure it is current. This ensures that all pupils within the SCIB group are hearing the same consistent messages in order to keep themselves safe in the community.

Our assembly plan is carefully structured to ensure coverage of global and local issues, always with an emphasis on British Values. We think about significant people and religious festivals, as well as key topics such as keeping ourselves safe and money.

Impact

By the time pupils leave Harriers Banbury Academy, our learners will:

• Have the knowledge and skills to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society.
• Be equipped with an understanding of how they are developing personally and socially.
• Be able to navigate real life situations that are part of growing up, showing resilience and effective decision making skills.
• Know where and how to get help when needed.
• Appreciate differences and diversity.
• Be able to understand and manage their emotions effectively.
• Be increasingly able to deal with friendship issues.
• Be able to make healthy choices.
• Recognise the 5 British Values of Democracy, Tolerance, Mutual Respect, Rule of Law and Individual Liberty.
• Know strategies to be able to look after their mental health and wellbeing.

Across the curriculum, topics are revisited each year and new content is introduced to add depth to pupils’ learning. This ensures a clear progression from Nursery to Year 6.