Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)
At Rowanfield Infant and Junior Schools, we want our pupils to be successful, confident learners and responsible citizens. We recognise the importance of both the academic as well as the well-being, spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of every child in our school.
We have a bespoke Personal, Social, Health and Economics Education (PSHE) curriculum tailored to the needs of our pupils. It has been has been written with the support of Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning (GHLL) team of Lead Teachers to meet the holistic needs of all children and young people. Our intent is to support the development of the necessary skills and knowledge that our children need to lead a happy, safe and a healthy life. This encompasses topics such as Healthy Eating, Emotional Health and Well Being, Financial Capability, Drugs (including Alcohol), Online safety and RSE (Relationship and Sex Education).
We also have ongoing programmes led by the pastoral team to support individuals and groups. At Rowanfield, we would like all our pupils to have a sense of belonging and feel included in our curriculum.
Our PSHE curriculum
We provide a comprehensive curriculum designed to support students in developing the skills and knowledge necessary for making safe, healthy, and positive choices in life. Children will gain a strong understanding of relationships, well-being, and personal safety, all in an age-appropriate manner.
Relationships Education
Our Relationships Education lays the foundation for understanding positive relationships, whether with family, friends, or online connections. We teach children the importance of kindness, respect, and consideration in all relationships with the high importance of consent. By the end of primary school, pupils will have learned about:
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Families and people who care for me
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Caring friendships
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Respectful, kind relationships
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Online safety and awareness
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Being safe
Our aim is to ensure that students not only understand the different types of relationships but also how to maintain them with respect and empathy. The curriculum provides them with the tools to build and nurture healthy relationships in all aspects of their lives.
Health Education
Health Education is an essential component of our PSHE curriculum, focusing on empowering students to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. By the end of primary school, pupils will be equipped with knowledge on:
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General wellbeing
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Wellbeing online
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Physical health and fitness
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Healthy eating
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Drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vaping
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Health protection and prevention
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Personal safety
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Basic first aid
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Developing bodies
Our goal is to ensure students understand the importance of looking after their bodies and minds, as well as the value of seeking support when needed.
As part of our PSHE curriculum, we are proud to have achieved the Healthy Eating Award, which reflects our strong commitment to promoting pupils’ health and wellbeing. Children learn about healthy food choices, balanced diets and the importance of looking after their bodies through lessons, assemblies and everyday school routines. This whole-school approach, supported by consistent messages and partnership with families, helps pupils develop positive attitudes towards food and build healthy habits that will support them now and in the future.
When is PSHE taught?
PSHE lessons are timetabled and taught on a weekly basis in all classes across the Infant and Junior School. Teachers follow GLA curriculum, along with access to the SCARF website and resources. For more information on this resource, please visit: https://www.coramlifeeducation.org.uk/family-scarf
At the start of each year, a class charter is discussed and agreed with, and between the children and the teacher which outline the expectations for each PSHE session. The rules within this charter are regularly revisited within PSHE lessons and help to promote an environment in which the pupils feel safe to participate and share their ideas, thoughts and opinions.
There are always occasions where teachers may feel it appropriate to teach an aspect of PSHE as a result of an issue that has arisen in their own class or in the wider school community.
GLA Trust Parent and Carers RSHE Consutation April 2026.mp4
British Values
British Values are promoted across the curriculum and through everyday interactions and aspirations of local and national figures. Assemblies, Religious Education, and PSHE provide explicit learning to ensure children have knowledge of British Values:
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Democracy
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The Rule of Law
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Individual Liberty
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Tolerance & Respect
Democracy
We ensure all voices at Rowanfield are heard. We teach democratic decision-making through our lessons, giving opportunities for choice. Our Pupil Parliament supports this, and are chosen by the children to represent them. Pupils express views through their lessons and regular ‘pupil voice’ is taken from subject leaders. Parents are encouraged to share feedback via our open-door policy and parent questionnaires.
The Rule of Law
Rules and law are consistently reinforced day to day through our school rules. Children will be taught the value of rules and laws and the consequences when they are broken.
We will help children to distinguish right from wrong during everyday interactions and discussions of stories and fables, such as ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’.
Individual Liberty
Children are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young children to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education. Children are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedom and are supported to exercise these safely, for example through our E-safety and PSHE lessons.
Tolerance & Respect
Being Respectful and kind is at the heart of our school values. Children learn that their behaviours have an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect. We actively promote diversity through our lessons, including representing a range of individuals in our History, RE, Art and Music lessons. Through Religious Education, we celebrate other cultures and faiths such as Diwali, Luna New Year, Easter, Christmas and Harvest Festival.
Protected Characteristics
Our curriculum also ensures children understand and respect all protected characteristics as defined by law, including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Discrimination against these characteristics is prohibited, and we teach children to embrace diversity and respect all individuals.
RSE
From September 2020, Relationships and Health Education became compulsory in all primary schools and parents/carers do not have the right to withdraw their children from these subjects. We believe that this work is an important part of safeguarding children as knowledge empowers them, helps them to stay safe and cope with puberty by understanding why their bodies will change.
At the Rowanfield Schools, we define ‘sex education’ to mean ‘human reproduction’. This is in line with the GHLL (Gloucestershire, Healthy, Living and Learning) scheme that we use as well as other supporting sites such as NSPCC. Parents do have the right to withdraw their child from a particular lesson which includes human reproduction. These lessons only feature in Year 6, at Rowanfield Junior School.
