Personal, Social, Health & Economic Education
OVERVIEW
PSHE education is a fundamental aspect of the teaching and learning at King’s College. Alongside the strong pastoral care in houses and individually from tutors, the PSHE programme develops skills and knowledge in our pupils to enable them to make good decisions and face challenging situations with confidence.
OUR SYLLABUS
The PSHE syllabus at King’s follows a spiral pattern, revisiting topics at age-appropriate times, and ensuring that every child is educated in key aspects of personal life and society. The courses are delivered by specialist teachers, skilled in covering potentially sensitive topics in an inclusive and non-confrontational manner.
PSHE at King’s encourages open discussions on important personal and societal issues. Students learn about safety, risk awareness, and resilience, covering topics such as:
- Alcohol and drug education
- Smoking and vaping awareness
- Relationships and sex education (RSE)
- Online and offline personal safety
- Financial literacy
- Mental and physical wellbeing
Guest speakers enhance learning, offering expert insights on these crucial topics.
The course is enhanced by regular whole-school speakers, who deliver talks to each year group, focused on their individual age-appropriate needs. Recent speakers include:
- Avon & Somerset Police: Online and real-world safety.
- Cyber Protect Officer & Police Community Support Officer: Digital security and personal safety.
- Childnet: Online safety awareness.
- It Happens Education: Healthy relationships and RSE guidance.
WHY STUDY PSHE?
PSHE is more than just another subject – it equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in modern society. By fostering well-being and resilience, students are better prepared to succeed academically and personally.
As the PSHE Association states: ‘PSHE education isn’t just another school subject. It’s a chance to give every child and young person an equal opportunity to develop the skills and knowledge they need to thrive now and in the future.’
This holistic approach ensures students gain the confidence and understanding necessary for adulthood.
As a statutory element of the education provided at King’s, the school has a duty to publish the PSHE and RSE policies on the website. They provide further context to our teaching in both PSHE and relationship education, and include details for parents on specific content. The policies can be found here: PSHE and RSE.
