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PSHE

At Lytchett Minster School, we are committed to helping every young person develop the knowledge, understanding and confidence needed to make informed decisions about their health, wellbeing, relationships and future aspirations. Through our Personal Development curriculum, students learn how to stay safe, contribute positively to society and become responsible, respectful and active citizens.

You can view the full Personal Development programme (including PSHE) for each year group here:

Year 7 Personal Development Curriculum Map - 2026-27.pdfYear 8 Personal Development Curriculum Map - 2026-27.pdf Year 9 Personal Development Curriculum Map - 2026-27.pdfYear 10 Personal Development Curriculum Map - 2026-27.pdfYear 11 Personal Development Curriculum Map - 2026-27.pdf

 

Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 PSHE is taught through the following channels:

Core PSHE Lessons

Students are taught in their mixed-gender tutor groups, usually by their tutor, a teacher of the RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) Team or as a year group with an expert outside provider.

 

Students take part in 10 dedicated PSHE sessions each academic year. Whilst these sessions are carefully planned, content may be adapted to reflect the needs of the year group, developments within the local community or national and international events that are relevant to students' lives.

 

Broadly, sessions will cover the statutory guidance for ‘Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education’ (September 2026) and the Citizenship programme of study (September 2013). Some sessions have a Careers focus, which link specifically with the Gatsby Benchmarks (updated 2025-26).

 

Personal Development in Tutor Time

Students have a 20-minute Personal Development session each week led by their tutor during tutor time. The Personal Development programme follows a spiral curriculum, enabling students to revisit key themes throughout Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 with increasing depth and complexity. This helps students build on prior learning and develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed for life beyond school.

 

The programme covers the following areas:

 

  • RSE, Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing (including First Aid)
  • Citizenship, Protected Characteristics and British Values
  • Online Safety and Digital Literacy
  • Financial Education
  • Lytchett Values (Leadership, Organisation, Resilience, Initiative and Communication)
  • Behaviour Curriculum
  • Study Habits
  • Student Voice (British Values in action)
  • Careers (GCSE Options and Work Experience)
  • Picture News (oracy-based session focused on a recent news item)

 

Non-fiction articles on current affairs and news items relating to core PSHE topics during the Tutor Time Reading Programme.

 

Assemblies

Weekly assemblies are themed around SMSC (Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural) development, and are led by the Head of House.

 

Personal Development in the Wider Curriculum

Topics taught within the PSHE and Citizenship programme are often relevant to topics taught across the curriculum. By revisiting Personal Development themes across different subjects, students are able to deepen their understanding and apply their learning in a range of academic, social and real-world contexts.

 

In library lessons (KS3 only) as well as tutor-time reading (years 7—10) students read a range of extracts, novels, short stories and non-fiction texts that relate directly to the themes taught in PSHE. These lessons enable students to discuss these topics further in a safe and constructive environment.

 

Transparency and Communication

The PSHE programme, including the learning objectives of each core PSHE session, is shared with parents and carers regularly. We encourage parents and carers to ask questions and discuss the sessions with their children, as well as communicate with their House team if any concerns or issues arise. Parents are signposted to relevant resources to support them and to aid in their conversations with their children. At each Parents’ Evening, parents are invited to hear more about the PSHE programme and ask questions.

 

We value the partnership between home and school in supporting young people's personal development. Parents and carers who have questions about any aspect of the programme are encouraged to contact the school.

 

Parents should note that there is no right to withdraw pupils from statutory Relationships Education, Health Education or Citizenship. Information regarding requests for withdrawal from specific elements of sex education can be found in our Relationships and Sex Education Policy here: RSE Policy.