PSHE

At CLC, we view Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) as a ‘curriculum for life’, supporting our pupils to become healthy, safe, confident, and well prepared for the challenges and decisions they will face. The curriculum addresses a wide range of pressing issues facing young people today, including relationships, mental and physical health, staying safe online, financial literacy, and future careers.

Pupils in Lower College receive weekly timetabled PSHE lessons, while those in Upper College and Sixth Form engage in a carousel of lectures and presentations during weekly enrichment and personal development sessions. The PSHE curriculum also incorporates statutory content, such as Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), as set out by the Department for Education.

Topics covered

Our PSHE programme follows three core themes delivered in a spiral curriculum:

1. Health and Wellbeing

2. Relationships

3. Living in the Wider World

This spiral approach means that while core themes are revisited each year, topics are explored in greater depth and complexity as pupils progress, ensuring content remains age-appropriate and relevant.

Health and Wellbeing covers topics that directly support pupils’ mental and physical health and encourage positive lifestyle choices, including:

• Physical health (food choices, exercise, dental health, sleep)

• Drug education

• Mental health and emotional wellbeing

• Basic first aid and emergency life-saving skills

• Personal safety

• Contraception and sexual health

Relationships focuses on helping pupils develop healthy, respectful connections with others, covering:

• Friendship and bullying

• Marriage and parenting

• Consent

• Safe and unsafe relationships

• The dangers of pornography and sharing explicit images

Living in the Wider World prepares pupils for life beyond CLC, empowering them to navigate adulthood and a rapidly changing global landscape. Topics include:

• Economic wellbeing and financial literacy

• Careers education and pathways

• Digital and media literacy

• Fraud, scams, and gambling awareness

• Prejudice, discrimination, extremism, and radicalisation

Beyond these core themes, PSHE at CLC fosters a strong culture of inclusivity. We actively challenge all forms of discrimination and prejudice, promoting understanding and respect in line with the Equality Act 2010. PSHE serves as an ideal vehicle for promoting Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development and embedding Fundamental British Values in daily life.

By equipping pupils with critical thinking skills, emotional intelligence, and a strong moral compass, PSHE helps them understand and engage with an increasingly complex and interconnected world. Our aim is for every pupil to leave CLC as a confident, compassionate, and responsible global citizen, fully prepared to thrive in modern society.

Head of Subject

Mrs Shortland, Head of PSHE