Subject leader: Mrs S Robertshaw

ntent: 

Our belief in the unique dignity of the human person as made in the image and likeness of God underpins the approach to all education in our school. Our approach to relationship, health and sex education therefore is rooted in the Catholic Church’s teaching of the human person and is presented positively and prudently. Stemming from this vision of what it means to be human, we seek to educate the whole child: spiritually, intellectually, morally, emotionally, psychologically, and physically towards our understanding of Christian maturity. 

The entire teaching is underpinned with a religious understanding that our deepest identity is as a child of God - created chosen and loved by God. The programme is fully inclusive of all pupils and their families. The RHSE programme of study forms an integral part of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Curriculum and may be modified to consider the needs of all pupils, ensuring appropriate progression as they move through the Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and 2.   

Implementation: 

To facilitate the teaching of RHSE at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, we have chosen to use the ‘Life to the Full Plus’ programme, which is approved by the Diocese of East Anglia. This is a fully resourced Scheme of Work in Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE) for Catholic Primary Schools which embraces and fulfils the new statutory curriculum.  The teaching of sex education in upper Key Stage Two is further supported using resources from the ‘Journey in Love’ Diocesan approved programme. 

With the exception of EYFS, RSHE is taught with a spiral approach to learning, in which pupils will revisit the same topics at an age-appropriate stage through their school life, the programme includes teaching about personal health, physical and emotional wellbeing, strong emotions, private parts of the body, personal relationships, family structures, trusted adults, growing bodies, puberty, periods, life cycles, the dangers of social media, where babies come from, an understanding of the Common Good and living in the wider world. 

Impact: 

By the end of Year 6, the children of Sacred Heart will have a well-developed, deeper understanding of the meaning of being healthy, how to stay safe and how to advocate for themselves. They will be able to use skills taught to them such as: building self-esteem, resilience, and empathy to overcome potential problems in the future and support others in doing the same. The children will have had experiences helping them to be independent and responsible members of a diverse society. This will all be underpinned with the teaching of God and how their faith provides the basis to their morals and the way they treat others within society.