PSHE

The Personal, Social, Health, Economic (PSHE) Curriculum is focussed upon developing the knowledge, skills and attributes to keep children and young people healthy and safe and to prepare them for life and work in modern Britain.

PSHE helps students to develop life skills to ensure they are well prepared to respect and contribute to the wider society and life in Britain. High expectations are set for the promotion of tolerance, understanding and appreciation of the diverse communities in which we live. The program of study further embeds the school core values of kindness, enthusiasm and excellence.

Tottington High School utilises a comprehensive package of PSHE provision known as Jigsaw. Jigsaw PSHE Ltd is a North Devon-based company, established in 2013, working with schools across the UK and in 30+ countries.

Our learning journey follows the Jigsaw PSHE Program of study and covers all statutory age appropriate RSHE components. The Jigsaw scheme of learning incorporates six core themes that student's study throughout the academic year: Being Me in My World, Celebrating Difference, Dreams and Goals, Healthy Me, Relationships and Changing Me

PSHE Learning Journeys

Jigsaw provides schools with a fully planned and resourced curriculum for PSHE Education which shows clear, logical progression across year groups and key stages. Jigsaw is also used by several of our feeder primary school’s thus providing an even more seamless transition for students as they join us in year 7, therefore avoiding ‘gaps’ in learning.

The programme is regularly updated in accordance with new statutory guidance and fulfils government requirements in terms of RSE and Health legislation; British Values and the Prevent Agenda; Gatsby Benchmarks for Career Education and SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural Education).

The programme is centred on providing the knowledge and skills young people need to lead happy, healthy and safe lives as they move through secondary school and beyond. The approach uses mindfulness as a core principle and is designed to ensure that our students grow in confidence and resilience leading to positive mental health - critical in an ever changing 21st century world.

Each of the six puzzle pieces in Jigsaw PSHE 11-16 is carefully crafted to build on key life skills year after year. These are progressive modules that align with young people’s developmental needs, from emotional resilience to healthy relationships, self-regulation, and mindfulness. The spiral structure of these puzzles means that students revisit important themes with increasing complexity as they move through the school.

PSHE is taught through timetabled lessons across all year groups by form tutors. Leadership of PSHE is overseen by Mr Higham (Assistant Principal-Personal Development) and Mr Wilson (PSHE Lead).

In PSHE lessons at Tottington you will see an engaging environment with a range of pedagogy from class discussions and debates, group work, independent learning and real-life examples/experiences. A key link is class discussions to ensure our students' voices are listened to and challenged where necessary to ensure we are preparing them for a life in the wider world. 

All students are given an exercise book where they complete classwork and have opportunities to reflect on their personal thoughts, allowing them to feel more comfortable in expressing themselves. This allows us to see how students have understood learning outcomes to support ongoing development and their wellbeing but also this can highlight any cause for concern. For example, if we become concerned for a student who makes a disclosure or writes about a situation or feeling we are able to inform the designated safeguarding leads to provide the appropriate intervention.

Assessment in PSHE is undertaken through students completing a summative assessment during the completion of each module. Furthermore, students will also receive an ATL grade for their overall attitude to learning in PSHE in line with the whole school assessment strategy.

In addition to this all lessons start with a retrieval activity designed by class teachers to assess prior learning and plug gaps in knowledge which have been identified in exit ticket tasks. Lessons end with an exit ticket to reflect on learning aims allowing students to consolidate learning.

Questioning, quizzes and class discussions are incorporated into PSHE lessons and are key formative assessment tools to enable teachers to provide immediate feedback whether it is positive or to address misunderstandings to ensure our curriculum is a consistent model of assessment.

To complement the PSHE curriculum ‘focus weeks’ are calendared throughout the academic year and delivered in conjunction with year group assemblies.

Furthermore, a range of specialist providers’ support the delivery of identified areas of the curriculum. These include our appointed school careers adviser, local colleges, universities, training providers, range of regional & national businesses, members of local authority youth team and a range of visiting guest presenters in conjunction with the Speakers for Schools Charity,

THS students are fully integrated in student leadership roles that support the work of the Academy and the wider community. Students will develop leadership skills through a variety of opportunities which impact positively within school on teaching, learning and well-being for both students and staff, as well contributing to our local community.

Members of the appointed student leadership teams apply through completing an application form and undertaking a formal interview process. Successful applicants must demonstrate exemplary behaviour and model the Academy core values to their peers.  Student leaders undergo leadership training, support at key events and have additional school duties.

When students embark upon their post 16 pathway of choice, they will continue within a form of education or training that will incorporate the skills and attributes linked to the secondary school PSHE programme of study. This key stage represents the last opportunity to ensure that students have the knowledge and understanding, skills, strategies and attributes they need for independent living and the next stage in their education or career.

Potential Career pathways linked to PSHE:

•               Educator

•               Health and Social Care Professions

•               Sports Coach,

•               Councillor

•               Politician

•               Civil-Service.