PSHE
Physical, Social and Health Education (PSHE), Citizenship and Careers are essential parts of Francis Holland’s commitment to schooling for life.
Our aim is to give FHS pupils the best springboard into their futures by equipping them with wisdom and humanity, and introducing practical like skills that complement our forward-thinking academic curriculum.
PSHE is a timetabled lesson for all year groups at Francis Holland. Our unique, inclusive programme is tailored to the particular needs of our students and includes a range of topics which are regularly reviewed to reflect our rapidly changing society.
As part of the PSHE programme, we are pleased to welcome a host of guest speakers who are experts in their field. These talks are often available for parents to also attend and recent topics include “The Impact of Soft Drugs on Mental Health and School Grades” by Dr Aric Sigman and “Body Image and Self Esteem” with Natasha Devon.
Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) is introduced in the Thirds (Year 7), following on from primary school foundation lessons, and we continue to develop learning throughout all years. We provide talks for parents on the topic to better support the whole FHS Community.
Thirds (Year 7) topics:
- Settling into a new school
- Personal safety
- Friendships
- Physical and emotional wellbeing
- Study skills
- Self esteem
- Puberty
- Citizenship and British values
- Celebrating difference
- Nutrition
- Resilience
- Online safety
- RSE
Lower Fourth (Year 8) topics:
- Healthy relationships
- Personal safety
- Diversity and protected characteristics
- Wellbeing
- Current affairs
- Critical thinking
- Careers
- Loss and grief
- Growth mindset and positive self-talk
- Online safety
- RSE
Upper Fourth (Year 9) topics:
- First aid
- Further study skills
- Research skills
- Financial advice
- Emotional wellbeing
- Equality and equity
- Careers
- Personal safety
- Online safety
- RSE
Lower Fifth (Year 10) topics:
- Personal safety
- Alcohol, drugs and smoking
- Wellbeing
- Protected characteristics
- Living in the wider world
- Critical thinking
- Online safety
- RSE
Upper Fifth (Year 11) topics:
- Further life skills
- Everyday sexism to global women’s rights
- Careers and higher education
- Conflict resolution
- Online safety
- RSE
Technology is a vital and overwhelmingly positive resource in education. At FHS, alongside the Scheme of Work taught in Computing lessons, the PSHE programme extensively covers all areas of online safety, from the Thirds (Year 7) through to the Upper Sixth.
The PSHE programme aims to teach from a ‘tech positive’ perspective, encouraging young people to reflect on their online behaviour whilst also equipping them with the necessary knowledge of how to respond to online safety issues, report any concerns and make positive choices. The lessons are complemented by visiting guest speakers and focus events such as our Safer Internet Day. Every year, each student is required to complete an IT and Social Media Code of Conduct Form, and they are encouraged to report any negative issues they may be experiencing online. We have high expectations of online and offline behaviour, and systems in place which monitor students’ device activity.
