The PSHE/Citizenship Department

PSHE Information

Personal, social, health and economic education brings together personal, social and health education, work-related learning, careers, enterprise, and financial capability. There are two new non-statutory programmes of study at key stages 3 and 4: personal wellbeing, and economic wellbeing and financial capability. The programmes of study are based on the Every Child Matters outcomes and build on the existing frameworks and guidelines in these areas.
The National Curriculum for England DFES/QCA

Citizenship Information

Education for citizenship equips young people with the knowledge, skills and understanding to play an effective role in public life. Citizenship encourages them to take an interest in topical and controversial issues and to engage in discussion and debate. Pupils learn about their rights, responsibilities, duties and freedoms and about laws, justice and democracy. They learn to take part in decision-making and different forms of action. They play an active role in the life of their schools, neighbourhoods, communities and wider society as active and global citizens.

Citizenship encourages respect for different national, religious and ethnic identities. It equips pupils to engage critically with and explore diverse ideas, beliefs, cultures and identities and the values we share as citizens in the UK. Pupils begin to understand how society has changed and is changing in the UK, Europe and the wider world.
The National Curriculum for England DFES/QCA

PSHE and Citizenship offers opportunities for students to:

Develop an understanding of rights and responsibilities;
To process, and gain skills for community development;
To gain the knowledge and skills required to establish and exercise political literacy;
To learn about the importance of healthy lifestyles.

Course overview

The personal and social health development of pupils is naturally an integral responsibility of all subject departments. At Canon Palmer Catholic School we teach PSHE and Citizenship explicitly as well in an attempt to create well rounded and balanced students. Pupils receive one hour of PSHE/Citizenship every week in Key Stages 3 (Years 7-9) and 4 (Years 10-11). Citizenship also gets taught through other subjects such as History, Geography, Religious Studies and Drama.

Course content

The emphasis is on the need to consider and discuss a number of issues relating to Careers, Citizenship, Economics, Health, Law, Morality, Politics, Relationships, Religion, Sex and Society. Links with national and local theatre companies, the police, fire brigade, anti-bullying organisations, external speakers, audiovisual resources and simulation exercises are often used to provide a focus of interest and expertise.

GCSE Citizenship

Canon Palmer currently does not offer a GCSE in Citizenship, although plans are being laid to offer it from September 2010 as a short course. Further details will be provided at a later date.

Sex Education

Pupils in Year 7 are taught ‘Sex Education’ during the school year by designated PSHE/Citizenship teachers. Each class has one lesson a week covering topics appropriate to the maturity of the pupils. Sex Education is taught as a module in the summer term of Year 7. The aim is to encourage all pupils to develop an informed and responsible attitude to relationships through the prism of the Catholic faith, teachings and values. It is presented in such a manner as to encourage pupils to have due regard for moral considerations and the value of family life.

Parents and carers will receive further information through a letter sent home which details the specifics about what the pupils will be taught. The letter is sent at least two weeks before the lessons take place.

Note: Parental opinion has been regularly sought in this element of the curriculum and is kept under review by the Headteacher and the School Governing Body. Parents have a right to withdraw from all or part of Sex Education where it does not form part of the National Curriculum.

Parent Booklets

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