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PSHE & RSE

PSHE is a unique curriculum area where students learn the knowledge and values to support their physical, emotional and social wellbeing both now and in the future.

During adolescence, young people are continually growing and developing their own identities. Our curriculum therefore nurtures every student’s sense of self so that they can make informed choices and achieve success. By learning about health, wellbeing and interpersonal relationships, we provide our young people with the opportunity to reflect on the issues they face in their own lives with their peers. We place great importance on providing every student with the facts in a safe, supportive and non-judgemental environment.

During the study of PSHE, students develop their understanding of the fundamental British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. These are examined both explicitly and implicitly in lessons as our pupils deepen their knowledge of the political and democratic system in the UK, critically reflect on significant issues such as misinformation and extremism and evaluate how they demonstrate British values in their own lives. The study of PSHE also aims to provide our young people with the skills they need to contribute positively to society at local, national and international level. In our lessons, we aim to inform, inspire and empower our young people to think critically and actively participate in society. It is through this combination of both knowledge and character that our students become not just an individual but a citizen of the world.

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC)

At Barnsley Academy, we are passionate about providing our students with a well-rounded curriculum that incorporates the ‘hidden skills/knowledge’ that will help our students nurture their own personal development. Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to learn how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.  

Some aspects of our PSHE/RSHE/SMSC programme of study incorporate challenging topics, and we make no apologies in ensuring these are delivered to all our students in a safe learning environment. This is so students can ask questions, learn about common misconceptions and prejudices, and be able to make their own informed decisions and choices, after being presented with the full facts.

SMSC

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development is the over-arching umbrella that encompasses personal development across the whole curriculum.

SMSC development is provided in a range of different ways – within the curriculum, within PSHE being delivered within the tutor time programme and extra-curricular activities and opportunities such as assemblies, trips and visits (when available post COVID restrictions).

Within secondary, SMSC, PSHE/RSHE content is delivered during our tutor time programme, through 2 different platforms – Votes for School and Jigsaw, and in KS5 complemented with Global learning.

Parental right to withdraw child from specific sex education lessons within PSHE

“Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory PSHE programme” (DfE guidance). This does not include relationship education.  

Certain lessons are mandatory under the National Curriculum in Science and are excluded from the right of parents to withdraw their children. Such mandatory lessons will not include material on AIDS, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, or any aspect, other than biological aspects of human sexual behaviour.  

DfE guidance page 17, para.45 states:

‘Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE.’. This does not include relationship education or certain lessons which are mandatory under the National Curriculum in Science and are excluded from the right of parents to withdraw their children. Such mandatory lessons will not include material on AIDS, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, or any aspect, other than biological aspects of human sexual behaviour.

If a parent’s request to withdraw their child is granted, Barnsley Academy then know which lessons these students will NOT be allowed to attend.

At Barnsley Academy we have worked through this process, a difficult process as we would prefer not to separate Relationships Education and Sex Education as we aim to deliver holistic learning, and we would prefer all students to receive all of the RSHE programme.

PSHE lessons teaches Sex Education if the following definition is used:

Sex Education: ‘Human reproduction and sexual behaviour’ Including:

  • How human reproduction can happen (e.g. sexual intercourse, IVF, surrogacy)
  • Reproductive health, choices, rights and responsibilities
  • Sexual behaviour and sexual health, risks, reasons, rights and responsibilities

If this is accepted as the definition, Barnsley Academy identifies the DfE statutory expectations as core to this definition, and thereby is able to identify the lessons in each year group that include this content, i.e. the lessons ‘withdrawn’ students may need to miss.

The name of the lesson and the topic have been identified.

Using this definition of Sex Education and Barnsley Academy’s interpretation of the guidance, there would be x8 DfE expectations  

  • Year 7  x 2 – Developing sexual awareness (body awareness) and developing sexuality (body awareness)
  • Year 8  x 1 – Physical intimacy (relationships)
  • Year 9 x 2- Sexual health and STI’s (body awareness), developing sexuality and readiness for sex (relationships)
  • Year 10 x 2 -  Becoming a parent (relationships), making decisions about sex (relationships),
  • Year 11 x 2 - Sexual health and STI’s (body awareness), developing sexuality and readiness for sex (relationships)  
If a parent of a child in years 7-11 wishes to withdraw their child from specific sex education then they need to inform Ms Kilbane – kirsty.kilbane@barnsley-academy.org so that alternative provision can be provided.  

This can be completed by a parent for any student up to the 3 months before their 16th Birthday.

University and Careers

PSHE equips students with the tools they need to succeed at a top university or real alternative. By providing students with opportunities to enhance their communication skills through class discussions and debates, our young people are empowered to develop both their self-confidence and their own voice. The explicit teaching of character and key character traits also ensures that Barnsley Academy students are the most ambitious, determined and resilient students in South Yorkshire. This means that our students believe that they can ‘achieve goals both academic and personal; stick to tasks to achieve these goals, even when the reward may be distant or uncertain; and to recover from knocks and challenging periods in their lives.’ (Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education, Department for Education, 2019). We firmly believe that the qualities developed at Barnsley Academy will last students for a lifetime.

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