PSHE Overview Curriculum 2025-26

PSHE Curriculum Intent

At the Ursuline Academy, our PSHE curriculum is designed to educate the whole person, enabling every student to grow intellectually, morally, socially and spiritually so that they are prepared to live purposeful, compassionate and responsible lives. Rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and guided by our Ursuline virtues, PSHE plays a central role in character formation, helping students to understand their dignity, their responsibilities to others, and their place within modern British society.

Our PSHE curriculum is fully compliant with statutory requirements, including Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSE), and is delivered through a carefully planned spiral curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13. This ensures that key knowledge, skills and attitudes are revisited, deepened and applied in increasingly complex and age-appropriate ways as pupils mature. Our RSE provision follows the TenTen programme, enabling pupils to explore relationships, health, sexuality and moral decision-making within a faith-informed, respectful and inclusive framework.

Through PSHE, pupils are supported to prepare effectively for adulthood and life beyond school. Our comprehensive careers education programme, delivered in partnership with Unifrog and embedded across all key stages, enables students to identify their interests, talents and aspirations, understand pathways and labour market information, and develop the skills and confidence needed to thrive in education, employment and training. This ensures all pupils, regardless of background, are equipped to make ambitious, informed choices about their futures

The curriculum promotes equality, equity and inclusion, helping pupils to understand and respect difference, challenge discrimination and stereotypes, and appreciate the lived experiences of others. Protected characteristics and British values – democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance – are made explicit and explored through real-world contexts, debate and reflection, enabling pupils to become thoughtful, active and responsible citizens.

PSHE also supports pupils’ mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. Students learn how to recognise and manage their emotions, build resilience, resolve conflict, maintain healthy relationships, and seek support when needed. They are taught how to keep themselves safe and healthy, including online and offline risks, safeguarding concerns, substance misuse, exploitation, extremism and criminal behaviour, alongside clear guidance on where and how to access help.

Across the curriculum, pupils are encouraged to be reflective about their beliefs, values and choices, to engage respectfully with views different from their own, and to develop a secure sense of right and wrong grounded in moral reasoning, law and social responsibility. Opportunities for discussion, debate, creativity and personal reflection foster curiosity, enjoyment and a growing understanding of themselves, others and the wider world.

Through this ambitious and values-driven PSHE curriculum, we aim to ensure that every Ursuline student leaves us as a confident, compassionate and principled young person, equipped not only with knowledge, but with the character and conviction to contribute positively to society and live out our mission: Serviam – I will serve.