Curriculum

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) and Citizenship helps support our students to develop themselves as informed and active citizens who can fully engage in the diverse society of modern Britain.

Topics range from maintaining a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally, digital safety, forging and maintaining healthy relationships, sex education, the changing nature and diversity of families, the effect of the economy and financial management.  Lessons are purposeful, engaging and extremely relevant to life in modern Britain.

Students study PSHE and Citizenship throughout their school career.  In Years 7, 8 and 9 students have one lesson a week, Year 10 have one lesson a fortnight.  Many PSHE topics are explored in tutorial sessions in all years.

The brand new programme of study at Ashmole meets the new mandatory requirements set out by the government for Relationships and Sex Education for September 2020.  

At the heart of PSHE is a key emphasis on SMSC (spiritual, moral, social and cultural) aspects of learning as well as the promotion of the British Values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect as well as a tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.  

In studying these lessons, students will improve their skills of enquiry, communication and participation.  They will also grow in confidence and realise that they have a responsibility to make the most of their abilities and become positive citizens.  Students have an opportunity to express their own views in lessons and also through the School Council where form representatives can effect change on school issues.

There are some additional collapsed days which focus on specific areas of the PSHE curriculum.  For example, Year 9 have a ‘Well-being’ day which gives students opportunities to explore issues including online safety, addiction and personal safety.

PSHE at Key Stage 5 is taught through a range of tutor sessions, assemblies, collapsed days and visits from external speakers and agencies.

Grouping & Setting

Pupils are taught in mixed ability groups.

Assessment

Students are assessed by their bookwork, homework and knowledge and confidence assessments which they take at the start and end of each topic.