PSHE

Curriculum Intent

In PSHE education we aim to ensure that our students are in the position to make sensible choices when faced by difficult real-world situations and understand that through a thorough and enriched PSHE curriculum their academic achievement will also benefit from being a more resilient and well-rounded person.

Personal, Social, Healthcare, Economic Education develops the knowledge, skills and attributes all pupils need: from mental health and wellbeing to understanding the importance of staying safe online, healthy and safe relationships, making sense of media messages, challenging extreme views and having the skills and attributes to negotiate a potentially volatile labour market. 

OPGS follows the PSHE Association programme of study which covers three core themes – ‘health and wellbeing’, ‘relationships’ and ‘living in the wider world’ from the foundation years up to A level. PSHE has a spiral curriculum, enabling students to build a greater depth of knowledge and understanding throughout their time at OPGS.

Our enrichment programme provides students with the opportunity to engage with speakers from the wider community to improve their own health and wellbeing. Each year group has visits from key organisations such as Kent Police and Fire Service, sexual health advice from the NHS and Metro Charity, as well as Drugs, Alcohol and Mental Health support from the Kenward Trust, Alcoholics Anonymous, Hope not Hate, Mind and Beyond Equality, also all provide an invaluable service to the students of OPGS.

Foundation Years: Year 7 and 8

Year 7

 Transition and Safety

Transition to secondary school
Maintaining friendships
Growth Mindset
Emergency Situations
Managing Personal Safety

Developing Skills and Aspirations

Skills and Employment types
Career progression (inc. Challenging stereotypes)
Your career aspirations

Diversity

Rights and responsibilities
Stereotypes and Prejudice
Bullying
Internet safety and Risks online

Health and Puberty

Diet and Exercise
Healthy choices / managing negative influences
Alcohol, Tobacco, The Law
Peer Pressure
Puberty,
CSE
FGM
Being responsible for your body

Building Relationships

Different Types of Relationships
Positive relationships
Conflict resolution
Real Life Relationships
Self esteem
Romantic Relationships
Family life

Economic wellbeing

Needs and Wants
Consumer Rights
Ethical Decisions
Spending, saving and budgeting

Year 8

 Health and Wellbeing:

Self-esteem
Body Image
Mental Health
Resilience
Drugs and Alcohol

Community and Careers:

Civil Responsibilities
Democracy
Government
MPs
Laws

Discrimination:

Rights in the UK
Challenging Rights
Discrimination
Discrimination and Intolerance
Migration
Group Think
Standing Up

Relationships:

Recognising Emotions
Partners
Family/ Friend
Relationships
Sex in the Media
Sexual Orientation
Consent

Sex Education:

Contraception
Sexual Health
Teenage Pregnancy

Digital Literacy:

E-Safety
Cyber Bullying
Grooming
Consumer Rights
Advertising
Financial Decisions
Bank Accounts

Keystone Year: Year 9

 Peer influence, substance use and gangs:

Peer Pressure
Gangs
Knife Crime
Risks
Impact of Drugs
Addiction

Respectful Relationships:

Family Conflicts
Conflict Resolution
Homelessness

Healthy Lifestyles:

Work-Life Balance
Eating Habits
Eating Disorders

Intimate Relationships:

Equality Act
Trans stereotyping
LGBT
Pressures of Sex
Unplanned Pregnancy
Sharing explicit images

Intimate Relationships:

Equality Act
Trans stereotyping
LGBT
Pressures of Sex
Unplanned Pregnancy
Sharing explicit images

Employability skills:

Skills
Enterprising

GCSE: Years 10 and 11

Year 10

 Healthy Lifestyles:

Mental Health

 Economic Wellbeing:

Gambling

Relationships:

Pornography and Sexting

Healthy Lifestyles:

Role Models

Healthy Lifestyles:

Extremism

Healthy Relationships:

Modern Families

Year 11

 Healthy Lifestyles:

Stress

Relationships:

Abuse

Healthy Lifestyles:

Cancer

Relationships:

Fertility and Abortion

A Level: Years 12 and 13

Year 12

Health and Wellbeing:

Mental Health and Sixth Form life

Testicular cancer

Sexual Health and Contraception

Driving Safely

Drugs and Alcohol: making informed choices.

Fertility and Menopause

Living in the Wider World

Weekly news briefings

Weekly debates on current issues

Know your Legal Rights

Careers Evening

Faculty Careers Talks

IAG interviews

UCAS applications

Apprenticeship Fair

Interview Skills

CV writing

LinkedIn tutorials

Voter Registration

Mock election

Visit from Local MPs.

Relationships

An ethnically diverse OPGS Sixth Form

LGBT pride within OPGS Sixth Form

A mixed gender OPGS Sixth Form

Pornography and Media

Consent and the Law

Reproductive Rights

Year 13

Health and Wellbeing

Living Independently (cooking, finance, healthcare, managing your mental health at university)

Mental Health and exams.

Living in the Wider World

Weekly news briefings

UCAS IAG

Apprenticeship IAG

Interviews

Relationships

Positive relationships and recognising abuse

Strategies for managing dangerous situations or relationships

We would like to pass on our message of thanks to you and your staff, and especially to his A level subject teachers for their unfailing support of our son during his studies. He was delighted with his A Level grades yesterday. We are both very proud of what he has achieved, not just in this very difficult year but throughout his seven years at OPGS.
Parent Feedback
I just wanted to thank you for everything that you have done for me throughout my time at Oakwood, from teaching me in year 7 to supporting me through my GCSE's and A levels.
A former student
My wife and children and I attended the open day this weekend and I just wanted to feed back to you how impressed we were with the two young pupils who showed us round. They were a credit to themselves, their families and the school – please can you pass on our thanks .
Prospective Parent
The dedication to the young people of your school does not go unnoticed by parents and we are very grateful for the dedication to the students that your team have shown in switching so seamlessly to online learning. The online learning, specifically the Teams lessons, have been met with enthusiasm within our home.
Parent feedback during Remote Learning
As a parent, I have always appreciated the extra step Oakwood Park takes in looking after its students and yesterday’s meeting was another example of this, so thank you.
Parent Comment
Without fail, over the years every time we have left parents evenings we have commented on the lovely staff we have met, their commitment to their job and how they all make us feel they want the best for our sons, not just their own results.
Parent of two students in the school
He has really enjoyed all of his time and Oakwood and that journey will continue with the A-levels he has chosen to do. There is no question in our minds that this was always the right school for him.
Parental Feedback