2002 Policy

Introduction

Aims

Citizenship

Time Allocation

Curriculum and School Organisation

Important documents and Resources

Introduction

ST ANDREW'S CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL

POLICY FOR PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION AND CITIZENSHIP

St.Andrew's Church of England School attaches great importance to Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship and its place in the school Curriculum.

PSHE and Citizenship at St Andrew's follows closely the recommendations in the PSHE and Citizenship Framework and the National Healthy School Standard. Back to top

Aims

The Aims of Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship
Children need the self-awareness, positive self-esteem and confidence to:
-stay as healthy as possible
-keep themselves and others safe
-have worthwhile and fulfilling relationships
-respect the differences between people
-develop independence and responsibility
-play an active role as a member of a democratic society
-make the most of their own and others' abilities.

PSHE and Citizenship is central to the educational entitlement of all children at St Andrew's and permeates all aspects of life in school. It is encompassed within the teaching of all subjects within the National Curriculum and is identified in St Andrew's rolling programme and within the areas of the curriculum it is addressed.. The interdependent aims for the school Curriculum cannot be achieved fully without the provision of PSHE and Citizenship.

PSHE and Citizenship is linked closely to other cross-curricular policies, which can be consulted for more information, including:
-Drugs Education
-Dealing with Bullying
-School Behaviour and Discipline
-Child Protection
-Sex Education
-Health and Safety
-Equal Opportunities
-Race Equality

The way the Curriculum is managed, its organisation and the varying teaching styles used are central to St Andrew's philosophy and ethos, its aims, attitudes and values. All contribute to the personal, social and healthy development of children in school. PSHE and Citizenship feature as a time-tabled part of the weekly Curriculum, as well as impacting on the rest of the Curriculum. Back to top

Citizenship

Citizenship comprises three interrelated strands.
1. Social and moral responsibility - pupils learn self-confidence, and social and moral responsible behaviour towards authority and each other.
2. Community involvement - pupils learning to become involved in the life and concerns of their neighbourhood and community.
3. Political literacy - pupils learn about the issues, problems and practices of our democracy and how citizens can make themselves effective in public life.
Through a variety of learning experiences St Andrew's helps each child:
-know him/herself better and think well of, and respect, him/herself and others
-develop confidence/independence and think and act for him/herself
-acquire personal qualities, values and social skills
-take his/her place in a wide range of roles in preparation for adult life, to deal with risk and meet the challenges of life and to play an active role as a member of society
-value and respect belongings/living things/environment
-be able to share/co-operate
-value their achievements
-identify moral values and strive to live up to them. Back to top

Time Allocation

At St Andrew's we allocate a discrete session in the timetable of 35 minutes at KS1 and 40 minutes at KS2.This will be timetabled in each week.

In addition, opportunities to teach PSHE and Citizenship are taken throughout the school day when teaching the full Curriculum and other cross-curricular subjects.Please see the rolling programme for PSHE.

Whole-school/group Assemblies provide a daily opportunity to enhance pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, promoting and celebrating the school's values and achievements. Back to top

Curriculum and School Organisation

Curriculum and School Organisation
Class teachers may use their own methods when teaching PSHE and Citizenship, while, at the same time, ensuring these complement and reflect the overall aims and philosophy of the school.

PSHE and Citizenship are developed in the following ways.
-Class, or school-based topics, for instance a project on 'Ourselves'. This includes work in Science, RE, English or History. A topic in Science on 'Healthy Bodies' focuses on food and diet, exercise, smoking, or drug and solvent abuse.
-Circle time - topics include discussions and activities on bullying, relationships, making choices, loss (divorce, death, separation), healthy eating, emotional literacy, stress, anger management, smoking, drugs, moral dilemmas, and so forth.
-The personal and social development of children in St Andrew's is enhanced by work on environmental education, including projects for children to look after and improve the school environment. The Eco school initiative at St Andrew's is active in cultivating the school grounds and co-ordinating a re-cycling project.

During the school year 2002-2003 moves will be made to introduce a school council into St Andrew's School.


In planning the Curriculum, teachers at St Andrew's provide:
-a clear, consistent framework of values, supported and agreed by all, in which to work
-a classroom climate that encourages a high level of interest and all children to explore hypotheses
-opportunities for personal growth outside the classroom through responsibility, extra-curricular activities and educational visits.

All staff promote positive approaches to behaviour and our Behaviour Policy reflects this. It sets clear guidelines for both parents and children. We provide opportunities for personal, social, and health development through:
-individual, peer group, collaborative group work, discussion and role-play
-involvement in a range of problem solving activities
-preparation and presentation of tasks for different audiences
-positive self-assessment
-positive marking, with oral or written comments
-active participation in the community served by the school.

Through our general routines, in and out of the classroom, and the way in which individuals relate to each other, children are helped to form their own attitudes and values. By building positive working relationships between pupils and staff, all members of our school family are valued as individuals. Children learn the need for good manners, self-discipline and appropriate behaviour, in whatever situation they find themselves.

A Record of Personal Achievement recognises each child's personal and social development. It includes achievements in and out of school.

Partnership with Parents and the Local Community
At St Andrew's, we aim for PSHE and Citizenship to complement the personal and social development of children provided in the home and the local community. A high priority is working with parents and is a vital part of the whole-school approach, PSHE and Citizenship is part of our Home-School Agreement. Parents are encouraged to become involved in the life of the school, helping in class, with extra-curricular activities and in fund raising. Parents at St Andrew's are kept fully informed of the school's policy for sex education.

St Andrew's values the contributions of the community and outside agencies to the personal, social and health development and citizenship of its children through active involvement in the life and philosophy of the school.

St Andrew's invites a wide range of representatives to talk to the children, including School Nurse, Doctor, civic leaders, local businesses, Police, Fire Service, life education centre, local religious and community-based figures.

In order to develop citizenship further:
-the children in the whole school entertain the Cheery Club at Christmas time.
-Representatives from each year group take part in the Eco schools project
-the pupils in Key Stage 2 take part in the Junior Citizenship Project.
-The older children take part in a residential trip
-We take part in The Clean up the Cotswold campaign each Spring
-Each year we raise money for a main charity but also try to raise more funds by supporting smaller events to raise money.
-We are forging close links with the local secondary schools to make the transition period smooth.
-There are close links with the church.
-We take part in the Annual Horticultural show based in Chedworth.
-We actively seek occasions to work alongside the community in a real and meaningful way. Back to top

Important documents and Resources

Calouste Gulbenkian Passport: Framework for PSHE 1998
Foundation

DfES Preparing Young People for Adult Life (Circular 05/99)

DfES The National Healthy School Standard (Circular 10/99)

DfES/QCA National Curriculum Handbook for Primary Teachers 2000

Institute for Citizenship Junior Citizenship Project for Key Stage 2

QCA Personal, Social and Health Education and Citizenship at
Key Stage 1 and 2. Initial Guidance 2000

QCA Education for Citizenship and The Teaching of Democracy in Schools 1998

The Parliamentary Inside Parliament ? Video and support material
Education Unit/Parliamentary Bookshop Back to top