PSHE

In Year 9 all students follow a programme of Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship. The programme comprises the following elements:

• Relationships and sex education, including gender and relationship issues, sexual health, the law and sex, and sexually transmitted infections and contraception.
• Drugs, alcohol and smoking
• Citizenship issues, including crime and legal awareness, and government and democracy
• Careers and work-related learning, which is taught through links with CONNEXIONS Personal Adviser, Ms. Block, Work Related Learning Co-ordinator, Enterprise Day and sessions run by Mrs. Fanshawe, School Librarian, which includes an introduction to the Careers Library.

The programme is taught by form tutors with the support of outside agencies such as the school nurse, the police, Alcoholics Anonymous, The Samaritans, Connexions and the Citizens Advice Bureau. It also prepares students to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, and achieve economic well-being.

The progress of students is closely monitored by the Pastoral Leader, the Deputy Pastoral Leader and tutors. Students who are under-achieving will receive mentoring support from the Middle School Pastoral Team. The Student Planner is an important tool for monitoring progress and in cementing the link between home and school.

Year 9 students can make a positive contribution to the pastoral programme and general life of the school through the tutor group representative system. Each tutor group nominates two members to act as 'form representatives'. Their role is to ask their fellow students if they have any ideas and/or concerns which they would like to be raised at the form reps' meetings. These meetings are run by the Deputy Pastoral Leader. Two of the form reps are also nominated to sit on the Student Council. Year 9 students can also volunteer to serve as members of the Assembly Committee, which is run by the Pastoral Leader to provide students with an opportunity to plan and lead assemblies. Students can make a further contribution by acting as Paired Readers and serving as prefects during the week of the Year 10 Work Experience.