Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)
Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) forms an important part of our wider PSHE curriculum and supports pupils to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
At Ridgewood Community High School, RSHE is taught in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate way, taking account of each pupil’s individual learning needs and stage of development.
RSHE is delivered through our Jigsaw PSHE curriculum and is interwoven throughout the six Jigsaw themes. This enables pupils to revisit key concepts regularly and develop their understanding over time. Learning about relationships, health, wellbeing, safety, consent, growing up and preparation for adulthood is not confined to a single unit of work but is embedded across the curriculum, ensuring learning is meaningful, progressive and relevant to pupils’ lives.
As pupils move through school, learning develops to include a greater understanding of relationships, independence, citizenship, preparation for adulthood and personal safety. The curriculum helps pupils to develop the confidence to make informed decisions, recognise unsafe situations, communicate their needs and participate positively in society.
Our RSHE curriculum is delivered within a strong safeguarding framework. We recognise that children and young people with SEND can be more vulnerable to risks such as exploitation, unhealthy relationships, bullying and online harms. Therefore, a significant emphasis is placed on developing pupils’ understanding of:
- Trusted relationships.
- Consent and choice.
- Personal safety.
- Online safety and digital citizenship.
- Self-advocacy.
- Accessing help and support when needed.
Across all areas of learning, our aim is to equip pupils with the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to develop healthy relationships, make informed decisions, stay safe and become as independent as possible as they prepare for adult life.
PSHE Curriculum
At Ridgewood Community High School, we believe every pupil should develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and self-belief to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Through our personalised PSHE and RSHE curriculum, pupils learn to understand themselves, build positive relationships, make informed choices and develop the independence needed for adulthood. Learning is carefully adapted to meet the individual needs, abilities and developmental stages of all learners whilst maintaining high expectations and aspirations.
Our curriculum is delivered through the nationally recognised Jigsaw PSHE programme and follows a carefully planned spiral curriculum. Key knowledge, skills and concepts are revisited and developed over time, enabling pupils to build confidence, independence and understanding throughout their school journey.
Learning is tailored through our Pre-Formal, Semi-Formal and Formal pathways, ensuring that all pupils can access meaningful, relevant and age-appropriate learning that supports both their personal development and preparation for adulthood.
Our Curriculum Themes
Our PSHE and RSHE curriculum is organised around six core themes:
