Intent - Why do we teach RSHE?

RSHE gives pupils the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe and prepare them for life in modern Britain. As the curriculum develops, students are prepared with how to be an adult and thrive in different social environments as they are taught how to communicate with a range of people.

Through RSHE students learn skills to help them develop and thrive at each stage of development as they are exposed to and educated on the wider world, choices and consequences. The RSHE curriculum helps students be an individual, part of a family, social group and society.

Students receive a broad range of lessons across the six core themes. These are: 

• Staying Safe Online and Offline
• Life Beyond School
• Health and Wellbeing
• Celebrating Diversity and Equality 
• Relationships and Sex Education
• Rights, Responsibilities and British Values

Implementation - How do we teach RSHE?

Students are taught using a spiral curriculum programme which introduces new and more challenging learning, while building on what has gone before. This reflects and meets the personal developmental needs of the children and young people.

At the Basildon Lower Academy we take a positive approach which does not attempt to induce shock or guilt but focuses on what children and young people can do to keep themselves and others healthy and safe and to lead happy and fulfilling lives full of openness and honesty. We aim to support those who are most vulnerable in society and support not only them but all students to empower them to be able to thrive in the wider environment. 

To support all students we offer a wide variety of teaching and learning styles within RSHE education, with an emphasis on the teacher as facilitator of discussion and debate.

We pride ourselves on how we provide a safe and supportive learning environment where children and young people can develop the confidence to ask questions, challenge the information they are offered, draw on their own experience, express their views and opinions and put what they have learned into practice in their own lives.

Statutory guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education can be found on the government website: Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education - GOV.UK