PSHE

Your education should help you use and develop your talents and abilities. It should also help you to live peacefully, protect the environment and respect other people.’ Article29 UNCRC (United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child)

‘Education is a human right and a force for sustainable development and peace. Every goal in the 2030 Agenda requires education to empower people with the knowledge, skills and values to live in dignity, build their lives and contribute to their societies. This agenda aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030.’ UNESCO SDG 4 (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation Sustainable Development Goals)

Cultural Capital

At Our Lady and St John, our pupils should feel confident to discuss honestly a plurality and diversity of views so that they understand how beneficial it is to appreciate a range of different cultures and that this is preparation for them as part of modern Britain. We encourage our pupils to develop an openness to new ideas so that they are willing to change their views in light of new experiences and of those who share their experiences to others.

Evidence suggests that the cultural capital passed on through families helps children to do better in school by understanding how communities function. The education system values the knowledge and ways of thinking developed by acquiring cultural capital, both abstract and formal. As adults, cultural capital helps individuals to network with other adults who have a similar body of knowledge and experiences and who in turn control access to high-paying professions and prestigious leadership roles, for example in government.

Citizenship, British Values and Prevent

Our Lady and St John’s promotes British values in a number of ways although we are a Roman Catholic secondary school, these values include the primacy of British civil and criminal law, religious freedoms and tolerance along with opposition to gender segregation.

The British values are developed and deepened within our school curriculum and they include:

• The fundamental British values of democracy (for example in the election, role and impact of our School Council and Prefects). Our pupils have a safe place to respond to current events that will challenge their beliefs and to investigate moral and ethical issues.
• The rule of law (for example in our clear code of conduct and how we behave both in and out of school). Pupils understand the consequences both positive and negative of their actions (cause and effect). Opportunities are given to explore rights and responsibilities, truth, justice, equality and right and wrong as well as participating in and resolving conflict.
• Individual liberty (demonstrated by our pastoral system, enrichment activities such as sport, music, drama, art, languages and local, national and international charities). Our pupils work well together and relate well together as members of groups or teams.
• Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs which is seen in our Pupil Chaplaincy Team where members of other faith communities come together to develop an appreciation of the intangible (for example love, ambiguity). Pupils develop empathy, compassion and concern with and for others. They experience wonder and fascination as well as understanding human feelings and emotions.

To be considered:

• Delivering PSHE
• Keep the contents of the current website page
• Subject Development Opportunities

The Personal and Social Health Education (PSHE) programme plays a vital part in informing and supporting our pupils. The programme empowers them to take responsibility for their lifestyle and learning, and enhancing their development into confident and skilled young adults who will be confident and well prepared for the challenges of life ahead as a citizen. Making the students aware how to keep safe and allows them to tackle many of life’s issues in a safe environment.