PSCHE

Updated: Wed 10 Oct 2012   Share:

At The John Lyon School, we are as committed to developing each student’s social and emotional intelligence skills as we are to helping him to learn in his academic work. Our Personal, Social, Citizenship & Health Education (PSCHE) programme is designed to contribute to the personal development of every student.

In PSCHE lessons a number of issues and topics are targeted, these include health, sex and relationship education. We also include specific assistance on topics such as study skills and revision techniques.

Personal, Social, Citizenship & Health Education is an integral part of the pastoral provision within the School. It provides teaching about pastoral issues: relationships, bullying, alcohol, drugs, sex and relationships, academic progress, moral values and citizenship. The programme of study in PSCHE is designed to address the following objectives:

• Develop a positive self-concept

• Improve decision making ability related to personal and health issues

• Clarify health, personal and social attitudes or values

• Increase health knowledge

• Improve communication skills

• Improve health related skills

• Gain knowledge and understanding about becoming informed citizens

• Develop social responsibility

• Develop skills of participation and responsible action

• Develop skills to deal with transition

This programme is a core part of the curriculum for all boys in Years 7-11.

PSCHE aims to provide students with the knowledge and understanding to develop a moral code and to make responsible and reasoned judgements. Students learn to consider their own values and beliefs and develop self-knowledge.

The Year 7 course starts with lessons designed to help the boy settle into the life of the School and to facilitate the development of good relationships. It also examines the principles of time management and study skills. This is followed by units that look at the changes that will take place during puberty and developing healthy lifestyles. The boys will also start to study democracy in Britain.

In Year 8 there are lessons on personal safety and learning to deal assertively with a range of situations. The course continues with a focus on emotional literacy. This is followed by a unit on prejudice and discrimination. The boys will learn about alcohol; the legal situation and its use and abuse. There are also lessons on study skills and money management.

Boys in Year 9 will be taught units of study that relate to human rights and managing relationships. These are followed by studies of local government and crime and crime and punishment. Health education in Year 9 includes a consideration of eating disorders. The year concludes with work on money management and environmental issues. All the pupils will receive careers education and lessons on charity and community involvement.

The Year 10 pupils start the year with a focus on the further development and understanding of study skills. They will also receive substantial teaching on drugs awareness and their attitudes towards drugs, including alcohol and its abuse. The pupils will also receive teaching on sex and relationships, including specific content on contraception. Following this, they will look at healthy lifestyles and personal safety and use this information to give presentations to the class. The citizenship content in Year 10 includes an examination of law making and holding a mock magistrates court. The year concludes with units on; finance, making moral judgements and resolving conflict.

At the start of Year 11 the pupils are asked to reflect on the successes and weaknesses of the previous year to set themselves relevant targets. This work is associated with some targeted study skills input. Later in the term, there are modules on drugs and crime focussing on the issues associated with cannabis use and mental health. The Spring Term has teaching on sexually transmitted infections and other issues of health and personal safety such as, drug rape and testicular cancer. The pupils also examine gender issues and attitudes towards women. Shortly before the start of study leave, there are further lessons on effective revision and exam strategy.