Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) – Becoming the Person God Created Me to Be

Growing up is about much more than learning facts.

It is about discovering who you are.

Learning how to build friendships.

Understanding your feelings.

Making wise choices.

Showing kindness.

Finding your voice.

Developing confidence.

Learning how to live well alongside others.

At St Bernard's RC Primary School, we believe that PSHE is at the heart of helping children become happy, healthy and compassionate young people.

Every lesson helps children understand themselves a little more deeply and recognise the unique person God created them to be.

Intent

Our intention is to develop confident, resilient and compassionate young people who understand themselves, care for others and make positive contributions to the world around them.

We believe that children flourish when they feel safe, valued and understood. Our PSHE curriculum therefore develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable children to build positive relationships, care for their physical and mental wellbeing and navigate life's opportunities and challenges with confidence.

Our curriculum is rooted in our Catholic mission of Believe. Grow. Succeed.

It encourages children to recognise that every person is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore deserves dignity, kindness and respect.

Our PSHE curriculum brings together many aspects of school life, including:

• emotional wellbeing
• relationships
• mental health
• physical health
• online safety
• British Values
• Catholic Social Teaching
• safeguarding
• inclusion
• anti-bullying
• economic wellbeing
• citizenship
• leadership
• personal responsibility.

Throughout every year, children continue to explore our whole-school Big Question:

"Who am I, and who am I called to become?"

This question sits at the heart of every conversation, every reflection and every opportunity for personal growth.

Implementation

Our PSHE curriculum is delivered through carefully planned lessons, meaningful discussion, real-life experiences and the daily life of our school community.

Learning is built upon strong relationships and provides children with a safe environment in which they can ask questions, share ideas, reflect thoughtfully and develop confidence in expressing themselves respectfully.

Our curriculum is closely linked to our whole-school approach of Hearts, Bodies, Voices, Minds Ready, recognising that personal development begins with helping children understand themselves.

Children learn to develop:

• Healthy Hearts through emotional literacy, empathy, resilience and positive relationships.
• Healthy Bodies through healthy lifestyles, physical wellbeing, nutrition and self-care.
• Positive Voices through respectful communication, confidence, leadership and responsible citizenship.
• Ready Minds through self-awareness, emotional regulation, problem solving and thoughtful decision making.

Catholic Social Teaching provides a moral foundation throughout the curriculum. Children regularly explore themes such as human dignity, solidarity, stewardship, justice, peace, service and the common good, helping them recognise their responsibility to care for others and contribute positively to society.

British Values are explored naturally alongside our Catholic ethos, helping children understand democracy, individual liberty, the rule of law, mutual respect and tolerance as values that reflect both responsible citizenship and Gospel living.

Our curriculum also includes Relationships Education, safeguarding, online safety and economic wellbeing, ensuring children are prepared for life in an ever-changing world while remaining rooted in strong moral values.

Pupil leadership opportunities further strengthen personal development. Through our Faith Team, Laudato Si' Team, School Improvement Team, Sports Leaders and Peer Mediators, children experience leadership as an opportunity to serve others, make positive changes and contribute to the life of our community.

PSHE is not confined to one lesson each week.

It is lived every day through relationships, worship, behaviour, curriculum experiences and the culture of our school.

Impact

The impact of our PSHE curriculum can be seen in confident children who know themselves, value others and understand how they can make a positive difference in the world.

Children develop increasing emotional resilience, recognising and managing their feelings while building healthy relationships based upon kindness, honesty and mutual respect.

They communicate confidently, knowing that their voice matters while understanding the importance of listening carefully to others.

Children demonstrate compassion, responsibility and integrity in the choices they make each day. They understand that leadership is rooted in service and that every individual has the ability to contribute positively to their community.

Children become increasingly aware of their physical and mental wellbeing, recognising the importance of healthy lifestyles, positive relationships and asking for help whenever they need it.

They understand how to stay safe, both online and offline, and demonstrate the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed choices in an increasingly complex world.

Most importantly, our children leave St Bernard's with a strong sense of who they are.

They know they are loved by God.

They know they belong.

They know their gifts.

They know their responsibilities.

They know that their words, choices and actions have the power to influence others.

And they leave with the confidence to become the people God created them to be.

Because the greatest success we can hope for is not simply that our children achieve well.

It is that they grow into compassionate, courageous and faith-filled young people who use their lives to make the world a better place.

That is the purpose of PSHE at St Bernard's.

This is how we continue becoming the school God wants us to be.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
Psalm 139:14