PSHE and RHE at SMSB

Our PSHE curriculum helps pupils develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe, and help them to be prepared for life and work. We aim to enable all of our pupils to become confident and independent learners who are ambitious for their future and able to contribute positively to society. With Christ at the centre, we encourage pupils to show love and respect to themselves and others, and understand that we are one holy family that supports each other. 

At SMSB we promote learning about rights and responsibilities and we appreciate what it means to be a member of a diverse and ever-changing society. Our children are encouraged to develop their sense of self-worth by playing a positive role in contributing to school life, with the opportunity to take on roles including School Gardener, Mini Vinnie, Chaplaincy Team member and School Councillor. We help them to be ambitious and focused with careers education and visits to a local university, and access to many different opportunities through our wider curriculum and after school clubs to broaden their horizons. Our Behaviour for Success and Marking policies aim to develop resilience in pupils, and encourage them to take responsibility for themselves and their learning.

It is the intent of this school to embed PSHE seamlessly within each area of the curriculum and throughout school life to support the development of our pupils and underpin their success. We use a focus on values to develop pupils' characters: the values we want to live by in our community and that we aim to nurture and develop in the children in our care: .  

Through our subscription to ten:ten's Life to the Full, each year group has access to source materials that cover every aspect of Relationship, Health and Sex Education that is statutory in Primary schools. It also lends itself to our school intent as it has been specifically designed for Catholic schools and underpins learning with religious understanding.

https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/life-to-the-full-primary/

British Values and Our Catholic Ethos

The government set out its definition of ‘British values’ in the ‘Prevent Strategy’ (2011), which was designed to prevent the extremism and religious radicalization of young people. British values are considered by the present government to be democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs. The promotion of ‘British values’ is central to Catholic education because British values have their origin in the Christian values of our nation.

At St. Mary and St. Benedict we recognise not only the importance of helping pupils to flourish academically, but also spiritually, morally, socially and culturally, so they are fully prepared for life in British society and for their role as citizens, able to make the strongest possible contribution to the Common Good of all. We teach the importance of British Values by going much deeper into the meaning of what it means to live a good life, within a framework of Catholic Christian Values. This provides the context and meaning for understanding why 'British values' are important. Our framework for understanding British values draws on the example of Jesus and his welcome and inclusion of all, which is developed in Catholic Social Teaching. 

At St. Mary and St. Benedict we provide an education which focuses on the formation of the whole person and on our vocation and purpose in life. We are guided by the Christian values of honourable purpose (that is, vocation and service), respect, compassion, co-operation and stewardship as we reflect on our place and purpose in the world. We place a significant emphasis on the celebration of individuality and difference within our communities and our calling to work for the Common Good, in the service of others. Our Catholic ethos, which includes explicit reference to Christian and British values, makes a tangible difference to the way we work together and with our wider communities. Within this framework it would be impossible to overlook the government’s view of British values expressed as ‘democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs.’ The examples that follow are an indication of some of the many ways we seek to embed British values at St. Mary and St. Benedict:

Democracy Pupil voice is significant in regards to life at St. Mary and St. Benedict. Our school council plays a strong role in our school and are involved in making St. Mary and St. Benedict a better place to learn. 

Pupil questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. We know that the formation of the school council and the active participation of our pupils will sow the seeds for a more sophisticated understanding of democracy in the future.

The Rule of Law The importance of Laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school days, as well as when dealing with behaviour and through school assemblies. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Visits from authorities such as the Police; Fire Service; etc. are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message.

Individual Liberty Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safety, through of provision of a safe environment and empowering education.  Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advised how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and the rest of the curriculum. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices.

Mutual Respect Respect is modelled by pupils and staff alike. The school promotes respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning environments as well as extra-curricular activities such as sport. Part of our school ethos and behaviour policy has revolved around Core Values such as ‘Respect’, and pupils have been part of discussions and assemblies related to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs This is achieved through equipping pupils with the ability to develop positive values, understand their own beliefs and their place in a culturally diverse society. We give our pupils opportunities to experience such diversity within the school community and within the wider community. All pupils experience a connection with other cultures and beliefs through our RE programme, themes and local links. The emphasis on working with others, and learning other languages directly contributes to the appreciation of others perspectives on life. Our Religious Education curriculum follows the teaching of the Church in providing a broad and balanced education, which includes an understanding of and respect for people of other faiths or none and other religions, cultures and lifestyles.