Personal Development

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum provides a programme of personal development and learning through which children acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives, now and in the future.

Holy Cross Prep’s PSHE curriculum encourages pupils to become healthy, independent and responsible in life, whilst developing the qualities and attributes they need to thrive as individuals, family members and active members of society. Its broad aims enable children to:

• value themselves and others as unique human beings, capable of spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical growth and development;
• respect the rule of law, distinguish between right and wrong, and understand the consequences of their own and others’ actions;
• show justice and respect for others, including any differences, thereby treating all people as equal;
• develop a clear set of values and attitudes, including honesty and kindness, and learn how to make decisions and moral judgements;
• develop their varied abilities and talents fully and set achievable goals;
• recognise the importance of their contribution to society;
• have a broad general knowledge of public institutions and services in England;
• recognise, develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle;
• develop skills in language, decision-making and their self-knowledge, confidence and self- esteem;
• respect other people with regards to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We instil some of these values in our very own ‘Holy Cross Way’, which all pupils and staff adhere to. Due to its cross-curricular nature, PSHE plays a crucial role in all aspects of school life and is taught across the whole curriculum; it is based on the three core themes:

1. Health and Wellbeing
2. Relationships
3. Living in the Wider World (to include economic wellbeing and being responsible citizens)

British Values are actively promoted throughout the school and embedded within the PSHE curriculum to ensure pupils are prepared for life in modern Britain. Pupils are encouraged to respect the fundamental British Values, as defined by the government:

• Democracy – actively promoted through the School Council
• Rule of law – actively promoted through our School Charter – The Holy Cross Way, class rules and the rules within our school community
• Individual liberty – actively promoted through rights and responsibilities
• Mutual respect – actively promoted through school’s Aims, Mission Statement and The Holy Cross Way
• Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs – actively promoted through RE curriculum, assemblies and World Faiths Week

The girls become engaged in the PSHE curriculum and actively learn through individual, paired and group work, role-play and discussion, ‘circle time’ and collaborative activities, as well as through the use of ICT. Learning is recorded in a variety of ways appropriate to the year group, to include folders, books, floor-books or within cross curricular subjects.

Pupils are actively encouraged to play a positive role in contributing to the life of the school and the wider community through their involvement with the School Council, Eco Council and Digital Leadership. All girls are involved with annual fundraising activities and have awareness of the local and international charities the school supports. They experience a wide range of visiting speakers and hear a wealth of tales incorporating the corporate, personal, financial, medical and charitable world. The girls have experienced a diverse range of society, listening to presentations and demonstrations from a diverse range of backgrounds.

As a school we actively promote the United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child, with each year group adopting a theme and looking at the respective articles relating to it.