Waterside PSHE Curriculum

At Waterside, our Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) curriculum plays a central role in supporting students to become confident, responsible and well-informed young people. Our programme is broad, ambitious and designed to equip students with the essential knowledge, skills and values they need to navigate an increasingly complex world.

Our curriculum is carefully structured from Year 7 to Year 11, with clear progression across key strands:

• Emotional and Mental Health
• Keeping Safe
• Relationships & Sex Education (RSE)
• Health & Fitness
• Online Life & Media
• Values, Rights and Responsibilities
• Personal Development Skills
• Future Choices & Money

Through this structure, students learn how to keep themselves safe, build healthy relationships, make informed decisions, and prepare for life beyond school.

Curriculum Intent

Our PSHE and RSE curriculums aim to empower students to make informed, safe and respectful choices. Consent is a key concept woven throughout the curriculum, reflecting the needs of our school community and supporting students to develop healthy, positive relationships as they enter the wider world.

RSE Curriculum learning journey

We also place a strong emphasis on:

• Personal development and self-advocacy
• Accessing healthcare and community services
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing
• Preparing students for college, apprenticeships and employment
• Engaging meaningfully with the community

What Students Learn:

Relationships & Sex Education (RSE)

RSE is taught every year, building in depth and complexity. Topics include:

• Healthy and respectful relationships
• Consent (revisited regularly)
• Families, friendships and communication
• Puberty, sexual health and contraception
• Gender identity, sexuality and diversity
• Online safety, pornography and harmful content
• Relationship changes, pregnancy and choices
• Abuse, coercive control and staying safe
• The law relating to sex and relationships

RSE Curriculum learning journey

RSE is delivered through planned lessons, supported by the school nurse, external specialists, and educational programmes.

Health and Wellbeing

Students explore a wide range of topics that support physical and emotional health, including:

• Mental health and mindfulness
• Managing stress and emotions
• Drugs, alcohol and risky behaviours
• Personal hygiene and body image
• Neurodiversity and disability
• Healthy lifestyle choices and accessing healthcare services

Living in the Wider World

This strand prepares students for adult life by developing key life skills and awareness of the world around them. Topics include:

• Online safety and digital resilience
• Criminal exploitation, grooming and anti-social behaviour
• Careers, work experience and employability skills
• Budgeting, saving and borrowing
• Community engagement and citizenship
• Equality, tolerance and respectful attitudes

Students also take part in visits, workshops and projects, including:

• College and employer visits
• Merseyside Fire & Rescue sessions
• Police and community sessions
• LFC Foundation leadership programmes
• National Trust and cultural visits
• Community engagement projects

Our Commitment

We ensure that PSHE at Waterside:

• Is age-appropriate, inclusive and responsive to students’ needs
• Builds knowledge year on year through a clear learning journey
• Supports safeguarding and promotes student wellbeing
• Prepares students for a successful future in education, employment and society

Individual lesson content for PSHE and RSE from Years 7–11 are available on request.