Relationships, Sex and Health Education

Key Stage 3

Relationship Sex and Health Education (RSHE) at Key Stage 3 is designed to enable pupils to be inquisitive and receive the facts about topics central to their development and the world around them. Teaching and learning in our discrete once a week lessons, is focussed on discussion and debate within a safe and supportive environment where everyone matters. Our team of senior teachers visit relevant and sometimes controversial topics through creative tasks and fact finding. The curriculum content is planned to be age appropriate and supportive of other subject content. For example, Puberty is covered in Year 7 Science, where pupils learn the facts. In RSHE we use this Science knowledge to investigate emotional changes. Relationship topics build upon the school ethos of supporting diversity and reinforce our strict policies on bullying and discrimination. Central to RSHE throughout all Key Stages is also the development and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, including diet, fitness and making safe choices and first aid.

Key Stage 4

Relationship Sex and Health Education (RSHE) supports all aspects of life at Wadebridge School. The Key Stage 4 programme aims to provide pupils with an abundance of opportunities to discuss and consider pertinent and relevant topics, important to their development into young adults. RSHE education is covered through discrete lessons once a week, for Year 9 and 10. During these lessons external agencies make an effective contribution bringing a wider range of expertise. Year 11 students receive one lesson a fortnight, focussed on preparing them for greater independence in a life beyond school. Topics such as conflict resolution, personal values and responsible choices aim to develop young adults with self-efficacy and the ability to make informed choices.

The Key Stage 4 RSHE teaching team is made up of senior teachers and members of the senior leadership team. This supports the high status we place on RSHE education and it’s centrality to the vision and ethos of our school. Staff use a range of imaginative teaching strategies and the programme is constantly updated to respond to the issues that our students face. Students work in  safe and secure learning environments that enable them to explore health and wellbeing, relationships and living in the wider world. We are proud that our students willingly discuss and debate sensitive and controversial issues, and have the confidence to challenge attitudes/behaviour that they see as negative. 

Wadebridge School is dedicated to encouraging all pupils to make a genuine and valued contribution to school life. Examples include the Empower team, a group of Year 10 students who are trained to provide peer support and mentoring for younger students, and PRIDE, a group that focuses on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ) peer support. PRIDE raises awareness of LGBTQ issues and celebrates equality, diversity and acceptance within our school. 

Our RSHE content is supported by form time sessions on employability skills, online presence, financial decision making and preparing for next steps.

Find a more detailed version of the Scheme of Learning here

 Celebration of RSHE Student Work, Whole School Events & Competitions

An example of a speech written by a Year 10 student after studying the Black Lives Matter movement in RSHE - Year 10 BLM speech.