Relationships, Health Education and PSHE
At St John with St Mark Church of England Primary School, Relationships Education, Health Education and PSHE form an important part of our wider curriculum. These subjects help children to understand themselves and others, build positive relationships, keep themselves safe, care for their physical and emotional wellbeing, and prepare for life in modern Britain.
Our approach is rooted in our Christian ethos, our school motto, “We shine like stars each day”, and our school values of responsibility, respect, friendship, compassion and truth.
We use the SCARF programme, from Coram Life Education, as our main PSHE and Relationships Education scheme. SCARF stands for Safety, Caring, Achievement, Resilience and Friendship.
SCARF is taught weekly in classrooms by teaching staff and is organised around six key units:
- Me and My Relationships
- Valuing Difference
- Keeping Safe
- Rights and Respect
- Being My Best
- Growing and Changing
Through these units, children learn about friendship, families, feelings, respect, difference, personal safety, online safety, physical health, emotional wellbeing, rights, responsibilities, growing up and preparing for the next stage of their lives. Learning is revisited each year in an age-appropriate way so that children build on their knowledge and understanding as they move through school.
At St John with St Mark, we teach Relationships Education, Health Education, PSHE and the relevant parts of the National Curriculum for Science. The school does not teach non-statutory sex education beyond the National Curriculum for Science and statutory Relationships and Health Education.
Parents and carers do not have the right to withdraw their child from Relationships Education, Health Education or National Curriculum Science. If the school ever proposed to teach non-statutory sex education in the future, parents and carers would be informed in advance and would have the right to request withdrawal from that specific content.
Our Relationships, Health Education and PSHE curriculum is supported by wider school provision, including safeguarding work, online safety teaching, anti-bullying work, behaviour education, Thrive-informed practice, myHappymind, ELSA support, MHST involvement, assemblies and pastoral support.
Parents and carers may request to view resources or ask questions about the curriculum by contacting the school office.
Please click here for our school policy and here for some Frequently Asked Questions. Our Overview document also provides additional information.