Personal Social Health and Citizenship Education at Archbishop Holgate’s School equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and guidance to live healthy and value-lead lives, empowering them to become responsible citizens, both during their school years and beyond.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” – Isaiah 43:19

Course description

PSHCE is a valuable subject that pupils are required to study throughout their time at AHS. The main aims of PSHCE at AHS are to:

• Consider their own personal values and interests, and how this informs their sense of identity;
• Encourage pupils to stay as mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy as possible;
• Promote respect and understanding of the differences between people in our community;
• Develop the qualities and attributes pupils need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society;
• Foster an understanding of the way in which society functions in the UK;
• Prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.

Students study 4 different strands of PSHCE:

• Relationships: Educating with Dignity and Respect – covering friendships, families, and interactions both online and offline
• Sex Education: Educating for Community and Living Well Together – covering physical and emotional changes during puberty and adult life
• Health and Wellbeing: Educating for Community and Living Well Together – covering mental, physical, and emotional health; managing risk in a range of age appropriate situations
• Living in the Wider World:  Educating for Wisdom, Knowledge and Skills – covering economy and finance, discrimination, value-lead aspirations and The Archbishop of York Young Leaders Award at KS3

As a school, we follow the Statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education programme as well as elements of the PSHCE Association’s scheme of work, and advice put forward by The Church of England Education Office.

Young Leaders Award

As part of the PSHCE programme at AHS, all KS3 pupils take part in the Young Leaders Award. This award equips young people with the leadership qualities to bring about change in their local communities and develops a passion in pupils for helping others.

There are 3 parts to the award:

• Personal project: Pupils will carry out a personal volunteering project which will make a difference to the life of someone else;
• School-based project: Pupils will carry out a project which will make a positive difference in school;
• Community project: Pupils will demonstrate their ability to work successfully as part of a community.

Pupils’ achievements are celebrated with each pupil who is successful in completing their award being presented with a certificate and badge by the Archbishop of York.

Assessments

Apart from the Young Leaders Award, there is no formal assessment in PSHCE. We continue to have high expectations of effort and participation from every pupil because of the subject’s value in preparing pupils for their future lives.

Ways to Help my Child Succeed

Please encourage your child to take an active interest in the world around them, both on a local, national and international scale. This might be through watching the news, reading newspapers or by discussing topical issues at home. The greater awareness a young person has of their community and our wider society, the more effective a role they can play in it.

Useful Websites

• www.archbishopofyorkyouthtrust.co.uk/young-leaders-award/
• www.pshe-association.org.uk/