RSHE

Relationships, Sex and Health Education are compulsory elements of the curriculum in maintained schools. The aim is that teaching will build on the knowledge acquired at primary school and develop further pupils’ understanding of health, with an increased focus on risk areas such as drugs and alcohol, as well as introducing knowledge about intimate relationships and sex at age-appropriate points.

Teaching about mental wellbeing is central to these subjects, especially as a priority for parents is their children’s happiness. We know that children and young people are increasingly experiencing challenges, and that young people are at particular risk of feeling lonely. The subject content will give them the knowledge and capability to take care of themselves and to access support if problems arise.

All of this content will support the wider work of our school in helping to foster pupil wellbeing and develop resilience and character, which we know are fundamental to pupils being happy, successful and productive members of society. Central to this is pupils’ ability to believe that they can achieve goals, both academic and personal; to stick to tasks that will help them achieve those goals, even when the reward may be distant or uncertain; and to recover from knocks and challenging periods in their lives.

This should be complemented by development of personal attributes including kindness, integrity, generosity, and honesty.

Aims

To know how to stay healthy and safe.
To understand the value of respectful and healthy relationships.
To know the difference between right and wrong and have a tolerance and appreciation of others’ protected characteristics.
To know how to discuss opinions appropriately and to appreciate the views of others.
To have the opportunity to develop as an individual outside the classroom.
To know how to make informed decisions about their future and where to get reliable advice from.

Through

Understanding how to form and manage relationships.
Appreciating what a healthy and unhealthy relationship looks like.
Learning about managing sexual relationships.
Learning about choices in relation to pregnancy.
Having an appreciation and tolerance of others’ protected characteristics.
An awareness of how to identify and report abuse.
Knowing what constitutes sexual harassment and why it is unacceptable.
An awareness of how to stay safe in everyday life.
An awareness of how to stay healthy.
An understanding of the factors that affect mental health.

Curriculum

KS3 RSHE

All students in KS3 will cover the following National Curriculum themes:

Internet Wellbeing & Harms

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Staying Safe Online Students explore the benefits and risks of the internet, including how to protect themselves against potential risks. Students will: Identify risks and benefits of using the internet. Assess potential risks of posting personal information on social media platforms. Suggest ways young people can protect their safety whilst using the internet. Identify sources of support suitable for online safety concerns.	Protecting Personal Data Students reflect on the pros and cons of sharing content online and explore how personal data is collected and used online. Learning about useful advice about posting content online safely. Explain how personalisation works (cookies, big data, algorithms). Evaluate the impact of personalisation on opinions, decisions, and behaviours. Explore strategies to protect personal data and manage personalisation.	Cyber Security How to identify key threats to computer system security and data (including personal data). Different kinds of malware and their threats. What social engineering is and how it is used to trick people into revealing sensitive information. Methods of prevention and protecting sensitive data.
Interpreting Information Online Students learn how to “read” the internet, recognising how and when they are being manipulated to think, feel, or act a certain way. Explain how the online world is similar to or different from the physical world. Know the dangers of overuse of social media. Use strategies to assess the reliability and accuracy of online information.	Misinformation & Extremism Students assess the impact of viewing inaccurate or extremist content online and analyse common warning signs. Explore negative consequences of being exposed to inaccurate or extremist content online. Explain ways to spot inaccurate content online. Study examples of how to respond to viewing extremist content online.	Setting Boundaries Online Students critically analyse what information they’re comfortable sharing online and investigate digital footprints. Explore risks of sharing personal information online. Identify negative impacts of viewing harmful content; describe ways to manage or report issues. Advice about how to create a positive and professional digital footprint.
	Sex & Consent Students explore the risks of sharing sexual images, ways to manage requests or pressure to share images of themselves, and sources of support for online safety and sexual abuse issues. Explain risks of sharing nude images/videos with others, including legal consequences. Outline how to report nude images/videos online and access support. State at least one way to manage requests or pressure to share nude images/videos.	Understanding Online Misinformation Students investigate the impact of using social media and consuming inaccurate information online. Describe advantages and disadvantages of social media. Identify warning signs of inaccurate information online. How to report or seek support regarding harmful content online.

RSHE

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9
Positive Self Concepts & Adapting to Changes Our pupils will explore the emotional effects of their transition to a new school and how to handle these changes with confidence.	Mental Health & Wellbeing Dealing with the causes and consequences of anxiety, depression and stress. Investigate the nature of common mental health concerns and explore effective ways to cope with them.	Mental Wellbeing & Self-Esteem Identify personal strengths and qualities, and the benefits of naming them. External factors that might boost or knock confidence. Differentiating between thoughts and feelings.
Friendships We will explore the fluid nature of friendship in the context of transition to a new school, emotional impacts, and how to establish and maintain healthy friendships.	Self Esteem and Confidence Recognise strengths and how to develop them. Identify strengths in others. Develop self-awareness.	Grief & Managing Emotions Identify words associated with grief and the 5 stages of grief (Kübler-Ross, 1969). The ‘growing around grief’ theory. Identify healthy and unhealthy coping strategies; suggest support sources. Creating a grief ‘self-care’ toolkit.
Bullying We will explore the nature and impact of bullying, including coercion and within different types of relationships, reiterating the school’s anti-bullying stance.	Healthy & Unhealthy Relationships Consider the unhealthy nature of peer pressure and coercion; develop assertiveness. Identify different types of abuse, warning signs in relationships, and how to approach a friend demonstrating signs of abuse.	Gynecological Health Managing normal, painful, or heavy periods. Screening and routine tests like cervical smear tests to check for early signs of cancer or change. Endometriosis.
Changing Adolescent Bodies Pupils will consider how their bodies will change during puberty, and the impact hormonal changes may have on their emotions, behaviour and relationships.	Grief & Bereavement Emotions associated with the grieving process. Recognise differences between helpful and unhelpful questions during parental separation/divorce. Identify healthy coping strategies and sources of support for grief.	SMART Phones, Social Media & Peer Pressure ‘Addiction’ and impact on teenager brain development. When and why young people are influenced by peers/take risks. Evaluating strategies to manage peer pressure, minimise risky behaviour, choose positive friends, and access support.
Healthy Lifestyles Investigate physical, mental, and spiritual impacts of: Diet and nutrition Exercise Sleep factors Oral hygiene Ensuring students live a healthy lifestyle is a key concern in Tameside. Students complete a short written assessment here.	Healthy Lifestyles & Addiction Consequences for body, mind, and spirit now and in the future regarding: Smoking and vaping Alcohol consumption Drug use (illegal and prescription) Investigate the nature of addiction and where to seek trustworthy help and advice. Ensuring young people live a healthy lifestyle is a key concern in Tameside. Pupils complete a short written assessment here.	Sexual Health Led by Tameside sexual health team, YouThink. Facts and advice about consent; delaying intimacy and enjoying relationships without sex; STIs; contraception; and pregnancy choices.
Staying Safe Medical issues impacting pupils as they grow up, including content about the impact of FGM on physical and mental health.	Health Service & Vaccination Facts and information surrounding vaccination and immunisation.	Exploitation & Abuse in Relationships Recognise signs of coercion, exploitation, harassment, and abuse in relationships (including online), focusing on staying safe and impact on others.
	Exploitation, County Lines & Knife Crime In the context of staying safe, explore the dangers and prevalence of knife crime, county lines, and exploitation in Greater Manchester.	Hate Crime, Gangs & Radicalisation Factors putting people at risk of radicalisation, hate crime, or knife crime. Examines individual/community impacts, targeted online content, and gang culture.

KS4 RSHE

All students in KS4 will cover the following National Curriculum themes:

Key Stage 4 (KS4) Curriculum

Topic Area	Key Learning & Objectives
Maintaining Positive and Respectful Relationships	The characteristics of positive and healthy relationships. Steps to improve relationships. Respect for others both in school and in the community. Criminal and coercive behaviours. Rights and responsibilities regarding equality.
Coercive Relationships and Harassment	Exploring issues and scenarios relating to consent, exploitation, abuse, grooming, coercion, harassment, domestic abuse, forced marriage, and honour-based violence. Understanding how these factors can impact and affect relationships.
Inappropriate Media	The risks and issues surrounding pornography.
The Characteristics of Intimacy / Pregnancy Choices	Positive and healthy intimate relationships and how health can be affected by choices made. Sexual health and fertility. Identifying sexual pressure and managing this effectively. The facts surrounding contraception. The facts surrounding pregnancy, including choices and where to get help.
Exploring Mental Wellbeing	How to recognise the signs of mental ill health. Healthy and unhealthy coping strategies. Sources of support.
Managing Risk	The risks relating to online gambling and debt.
First Aid Enrichment	Basic treatments for common injuries. Lifesaving skills and CPR. The purpose and use of defibrillators.

Cross Curricular

Science

Fertilisation, hormones, and the human reproductive system.

Food Technology & PE

Healthy lifestyles including diet, fitness, and nutrition.

ICT

Online safety, digital literacy, and media literacy.

Design Technology

The effects of Photoshop on prejudice, perception, and discrimination.

Whole School & Pastoral Support

Students are taught how to take responsibility for themselves and others, understand the consequences of their actions, develop an appreciation of right and wrong, and challenge prejudice.

A robust support and pastoral network is in place with access to external health professionals, including the school nurse, offering daily guidance on personal, sex, and relationship concerns.

Daily Assemblies Cover:

E-Safety Consent Mental Health Personal Safety Discrimination Anti-Bullying Protected Characteristics

Parental Consent

Year 9 parents and carers are informed about the sex education programme with the option to opt their child out. Policy and content consultations take place annually.

Management

Policy and strategy are overseen by the Assistant Headteacher responsible for Personal Development.

Review Cycle

Both policy and curriculum are reviewed annually as part of ongoing school improvement planning.

External Providers

As detailed in the RSHE policy, we on occasion use external agencies to deliver some aspects of the RSHE curriculum through assemblies and workshops. This link will take you to the resources that are used to present different topics

Withdrawal Letter – Year 9 Sex & Relationships Education You Think Sexual Health Visit – 14th November 2025

You Think Sexual Health & Relationships Resource