PSHRCE
PSHRCE (Personal, Social, Health, Relationships, and Citizenship Education)
Personal, Social, Health, Relationships and Citizenship Education (PSHRCE)
PSHRCE at Bishop Wordsworth’s is led by Mr B Denham BSc(Hons), PGCE (Lead Teacher of PSHRCE, Teacher of Religious Studies and Games, Head of Year / Assistant Head of Middle School) – bwd@bishopwordsworths.org.uk
In Years 7–11, PSHRCE is delivered through weekly timetabled lessons. The programme is designed to give pupils the knowledge, skills and values they need to navigate modern life with confidence. Topics include relationships and sex education, physical and mental health, online safety, citizenship, financial education and preparation for life beyond school.
These lessons are supported by assemblies, tutor activities and sessions with external visitors, which allow pupils to hear different perspectives and gain further insight into the issues that affect young people today.
In the Sixth Form, PSHRCE is delivered through a programme of assemblies, external speakers and workshops. Themes such as mental health, safe driving, drugs and alcohol awareness, consent, preparing for university or employment, and managing independent living are covered across the two years.
Our aim is that all pupils leave Bishop Wordsworth’s with not only a strong academic foundation, but also a clear understanding of how to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives, and how to make a positive contribution to wider society.
RSE Opt-Out: Parents retain the right to withdraw their child from the RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) portion of the curriculum. Requests must be submitted to Mr. M. Thorne (Headteacher) before the child’s 16th birthday, after which the student can decide for themselves whether to participate in RSE lessons
Year 7 PSHRCE Overview (Statutory Alignment)
At BWS we have worked hard to ensure that our Personal, Social, Health, Religious, and Citizenship Education (PSHRCE) curriculum aligns with statutory guidance from the Department for Education. The Year 7 curriculum introduces foundational themes that develop pupils’ understanding of health, relationships, and citizenship, while emphasising mental health, online safety, and respect for others.
Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing
Healthy Eating – Understanding what a balanced diet consists of and why it is important for long-term health.
Eating Disorders – Raising awareness of body image, emotional health, and the influence of media on self-perception.
Screen Time and Sleep – Exploring the impact of excessive screen time on mental and physical wellbeing, including sleep hygiene.
Self-Esteem – Building positive self-image, resilience, and confidence.
Needs, Wants, and Priorities – Introducing Maslow’s hierarchy and recognising what is necessary for wellbeing.
Relationships Education
Healthy Relationships and Trust – Developing understanding of respect, boundaries, and what makes a healthy or unhealthy relationship.
Friendships – Exploring how to maintain great friendships, avoid toxic groups, and resolve fallouts positively.
Behaviour and Respect – Learning the importance of showing respect in school, relationships, and the wider community.
Families and Long-Term Stability – Understanding different family types (nuclear, step, single-parent, same-sex, foster, adopted, extended) and why families provide love, support, and stability.
Online Safety and Media Literacy
Digital Footprints – Recognising the long-term impact of online behaviour and how to manage digital identity responsibly.
Online Grooming – Identifying red flags and understanding how to stay safe online.
Online Literacy and Critical Thinking – Developing the ability to question information, avoid misinformation, and evaluate sources (especially from social media).
Citizenship and Personal Development
Problem-Solving and Independence – Learning how to take responsibility, make decisions, and seek help when needed.
Organisation and Daily Routines – Establishing good habits for successful learning.
Racism and Diversity Awareness – Understanding prejudice, discrimination, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in society.
Wants and Needs in Society – Considering responsibility for meeting needs at both individual and societal levels.
Risk Education
Peer Influence and Peer Pressure – Recognising how herd mentality can lead to risk-taking and learning strategies to resist negative pressure.
Summary of Alignment
By the end of Year 7, pupils will:
- Understand the basics of physical and mental wellbeing, including healthy lifestyle choices and self-esteem.
- Develop respect for themselves and others through family life, friendships, and relationships.
- Recognise risks online, including grooming and digital footprints, and apply critical thinking to media.
- Begin to engage with broader citizenship themes, including diversity, respect, and responsibility.
- This programme ensures coverage of all statutory areas: Relationships Education, Health Education, Citizenship, Online Safety, and Mental Wellbeing.
Year 8 PSHRCE Overview (Statutory Alignment)
At Bishop Wordsworth’s, our Personal, Social, Health, Religious, and Citizenship Education (PSHRCE) programme in Year 8 builds on the foundations of Year 7. The curriculum is carefully aligned with Department for Education statutory guidance and develops pupils’ knowledge and skills in relationships, health, online safety, citizenship, and careers education.
Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing
Consequences of Unhealthy Living – Exploring the impact of poor diet, lack of exercise, and unhealthy habits on long-term health.
Money Management – Developing financial literacy, savings, and understanding interest.
Sleep and Screen Use – Understanding how screen use affects sleep and mental health.
Identity and Self-Development – Exploring identity, values, and becoming the best possible version of oneself.
Relationships Education
Qualities of Healthy Relationships – Trust, respect, communication, and consent.
Friendships vs Romantic Relationships – Recognising the value of both and learning boundaries.
LGBTQAI+ Awareness – Understanding different identities, terms, and inclusion.
Peer Pressure – Identifying unhealthy influences and making positive choices.
Masculinity and Gender Roles – Exploring positive masculinity, rejecting stereotypes, and challenging sexism.
Online Safety and Media Literacy
Group Messaging and the Law – Understanding risks of group chats, image sharing, and data privacy.
Digital Reputation – Considering the long-term impact of online behaviour.
The Manosphere and Toxic Influences – Examining harmful online influencers (e.g. Andrew Tate), incels, misogyny, and how to resist unhealthy narratives.
Citizenship and Personal Development
Attendance, Punctuality and Employability – Linking school habits to workplace reliability and success.
Careers and Aspirations – Balancing ambition with realistic planning, developing employability skills.
Teamwork and Leadership – Building collaboration, initiative, and resilience.
Entrepreneurship – Case studies of successful entrepreneurs (e.g. Richard Branson, Anita Roddick).
Money Management – Budgeting, saving, and financial decision-making.
Homelessness – Understanding social issues and empathy for vulnerable groups.
Prejudice and Discrimination – Exploring racism, ableism, and equality under the Equality Act.
Risk Education
Knife Crime and Gangs – Understanding the causes, risks, and consequences of carrying knives or involvement in gangs.
Substance Misuse (introductory) – Awareness of drugs and alcohol risks.
Peer Pressure in Risk-Taking – Exploring why young people take risks and strategies to resist.
Summary of Alignment
By the end of Year 8, pupils will:
- Understand how lifestyle choices affect long-term physical and mental health.
- Recognise the qualities of healthy relationships, including respect, equality, and consent.
- Navigate online risks, including social media pressure, group messaging, and harmful influencers.
- Develop employability and financial skills, preparing for future careers.
- Explore wider societal issues such as homelessness, discrimination, and knife crime.
- This programme ensures coverage of all statutory areas: Relationships Education, Health Education, Citizenship, Online Safety, and Mental Wellbeing.
Year 9 PSHRCE Curriculum Overview – Bishop Wordsworth’s School
1. Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)
Gender Equality – exploring differences and similarities between men and women, how society influences gender roles, and why equality benefits everyone.
Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships – respect, communication, and consent.
Sexual Harassment – definitions, the law under the Equality Act 2010, reporting processes, and the importance of workplace/school protection.
Pornography – how it rewires the brain, unrealistic expectations, impact on relationships, and addiction risks.
Statutory links: respectful relationships, consent, sexual harassment, harmful online material.
2. Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing
Using Legitimate Health Services – dangers of misinformation, unsafe online advice, and importance of evidence-based medicine.
Body Image and Health Movements – critical look at “healthy at any size” claims versus medical evidence.
Mental Health Stigma – historical roots, persistent stigma, Gen Z culture, and responsible discussion online.
Substance Misuse – classifications of illegal drugs, risks of use, harm versus legality, and government reasoning.
First Aid Skills – dealing with bleeding, choking, CPR, unconsciousness.
Statutory links: mental health, physical wellbeing, drugs and substance misuse, first aid.
3. Citizenship and Personal Development
Sexual Harassment and the Law – rights and protections under the Equality Act, responsibilities of employers and institutions.
Online Influence and Misinformation – critical awareness of health misinformation from influencers, social media platforms, and fake news.
Social Responsibility – why equality, fairness, and protection from harassment are essential for a healthy society.
Statutory links: Citizenship, safeguarding, online safety, law and justice.
4. Key Learning Outcomes for Year 9
By the end of Year 9, pupils should:
- Understand how gender stereotypes and inequalities affect opportunities and relationships.
- Recognise the legal and moral unacceptability of sexual harassment and how to respond if it happens.
- Critically evaluate health information online and from influencers.
- Explain the impact of pornography on mental health, relationships, and society.
- Recognise different drugs, their classifications, risks, and the law.
- Demonstrate confidence in basic first aid procedures.
- Challenge stigma around mental health, using respectful and supportive language
Year 10 PSHRCE Curriculum Overview
Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)
Healthy relationships and consent – how to recognise respect, equality and consent in all relationships, including sexual.
Masculinity and gender roles – exploring positive masculinity, the impact of stereotypes, and challenges of toxic masculinity.
The Manosphere, misogyny and online influencers – critical thinking about harmful online movements, incels, and figures like Andrew Tate; developing strategies for resilience and respectful relationships.
Sexual health and contraception – introduction to STIs, prevention methods, and safe choices (including condom use).
Men’s mental health – focus on stigma, suicide risk, speaking up, and building support networks.
Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing
Drugs and substance misuse – classification under UK law, risks of stimulants, depressants, opioids, hallucinogens, cannabis, ketamine, nitrous oxide and polydrug use; understanding addiction and withdrawal.
Mental wellbeing – recognising signs of poor mental health, self-care strategies, support networks, and early intervention.
Suicide awareness and prevention – risk factors, myths, red flag warning signs, protective factors, and sources of support.
Loss, grief and bereavement – the grieving process, healthy coping mechanisms, charities and support available.
Online Safety and Media Literacy
Fake lives on social media – managing self-esteem, avoiding comparison, impostor syndrome, and recognising unhealthy online behaviours.
Fake news and misinformation – how to identify hoaxes, satire, propaganda, and biased sources; critical thinking about online content and confirmation bias.
Digital pressures – risks of oversharing, online bullying, dopamine addiction, and unhealthy tech habits.
Citizenship and Personal Development
County Lines and criminal exploitation – understanding how gangs groom, coerce and exploit young people; recognising signs of involvement; safeguarding and protective strategies.
The Criminal Justice System – how it operates, consequences of crime, and the impact of a criminal record.
Personal identity and future pathways – reflecting on identity, ambition, resilience, and independence in preparation for adulthood.
Risk Education
Knife crime and gang affiliation – peer pressure, status, dangers of carrying weapons, and real-life case studies.
Substance misuse risks – specific focus on cannabis, ketamine, nitrous oxide, alcohol, vaping, and polydrug use.
Exploitation – grooming (online and offline), coercive control, and vulnerability in both young people and adults.
Key Learning Outcomes
By the end of Year 10, pupils should be able to:
- Evaluate risks around drugs, gangs, and online influences.
- Explain consent and healthy sexual relationships.
- Recognise harmful stereotypes about masculinity and gender.
- Critically assess online information, fake news, and social media pressures.
- Understand suicide risk factors and know how to seek help.
- Recognise signs of criminal exploitation and how to protect themselves or peers.
- Develop strategies for coping with grief, loss, and mental health struggles.
Year 11 PSHRCE Curriculum Overview
(Relationships, Sex, Health and Citizenship Education – Statutory Compliance)
In Year 11, PSHRCE equips pupils with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to prepare for adulthood. The programme deepens understanding of relationships, consent, risk, independence, and wider social issues, ensuring pupils are ready for the next stage of their education, training, or employment. Content is drawn from the statutory RSHE framework and the Citizenship curriculum, as well as themes of mental health and online safety.
Key Themes and Coverage
1. Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)
Consent, rape, sexual harassment, and the law
Healthy relationships: respect, care, and safety.
The impact of pornography and unrealistic expectations.
Breakups, emotional wellbeing, and supporting peers.
Understanding privilege (gender, race, class, sexuality) and its impact on equality of opportunity.
Sexual health: contraception, STIs, and safer sex.
Asexuality, sexual orientation, and diversity in relationships.
Statutory Links: Consent, sexual health, respectful relationships, safeguarding against abuse, online and media literacy.
2. Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing
Body image and body shaming (causes, impact, and positive body confidence)
Managing stress during exams.
Positive coping strategies for mental health challenges.
The teenage brain and risk-taking behaviour.
Balancing independence with healthy lifestyle choices (diet, sleep, exercise, substance avoidance).
Statutory Links: Mental wellbeing, physical health, impact of media, harmful coping strategies.
3. Citizenship and Personal Development
Taxes, budgeting, payslips, and financial planning
Preparing for adult life: working, studying, and living independently.
Understanding government spending, mortgages, and pensions.
Risk and decision-making: differentiating between positive and negative risk-taking.
Legal responsibilities at 18: voting, contracts, driving, and employment.
Statutory Links: Economic wellbeing, financial education, British values, preparation for adult life.
4. Online Safety and Media Literacy
The influence of social media on body image, relationships, and risky behaviour.
How social media can amplify risk-taking trends (e.g. car surfing).
Challenging misinformation and harmful online cultures (incels, toxic influencers, “manosphere” links from Y10 continued into Y11).
Statutory Links: Online safety, digital literacy, harmful online influences.
Key Learning Outcomes by End of Year 11
By the end of Year 11, pupils should be able to:
- Explain the legal and moral principles of consent and sexual relationships.
- Identify risks associated with substance misuse, alcohol, and dangerous behaviours.
- Manage personal finances, budgeting, and planning for independence.
- Recognise and challenge body shaming, privilege, and discrimination.
- Reflect critically on online culture and its impact on self-esteem, relationships, and behaviour.
- Demonstrate resilience, coping skills, and strategies to maintain wellbeing during stress and transition.
You can find further information about the statutory guidance from these three links:
Please find below the booklets which students will be using in their PSHE lessons. Please can parents/guardians review this important information with their children.
