RHE

Curriculum Vision for RHE

Our Mission Statement commits us to the education of the whole child (spiritual, physical, intellectual, moral, social, cultural, emotional) and we believe that RHE is an integral part of this education. Furthermore, our school aims state that we will endeavour to raise pupils’ self-esteem, help them to grow in knowledge and understanding, recognise the value of all persons and develop caring and sensitive attitudes. It is in this context that we commit ourselves: In partnership with parents, to provide children and young people with a “positive and prudent sexual education” which is compatible with their physical, cognitive, psychological, and spiritual maturity, and rooted in a Catholic vision of education and the human person. 

Curriculum Implementation for RHE

There are three aspects of RHE - attitudes and values, knowledge and understanding, and personal and social skills. These will be provided in three inter-related ways: the whole school / ethos dimension; a cross-curricular dimension and a specific relationships and sex curriculum. 

The main objectives for the RHE curriculum is as follows:

To develop the following attitudes and virtues: 

• reverence for the gift of human sexuality and fertility; 

• respect for the dignity of every human being – in their own person and in the person of others; 

• joy in the goodness of the created world and their own bodily natures; 

• responsibility for their own actions and a recognition of the impact of these on others;

• recognising and valuing their own sexual identity and that of others; 

• celebrating the gift of life-long, self-giving love; 

• recognising the importance of marriage and family life; 

• fidelity in relationships.

To develop the following personal and social skills: 

• making sound judgements and good choices which have integrity, and which are respectful of the individual’s commitments; 

• loving and being loved, and the ability to form friendships and loving, stable relationships free from exploitation, abuse and bullying; 

• managing emotions within relationships, and when relationships break down, with confidence, sensitivity and dignity; 

• managing conflict positively, recognising the value of difference; 

• cultivating humility, mercy and compassion, learning to forgive and be forgiven; 

• developing self-esteem and confidence, demonstrating self-respect and empathy for others; 

• building resilience and the ability to resist unwanted pressures, recognising the influence and impact of the media, internet and peer groups and so developing the ability to assess pressures and respond appropriately; 

• being patient, delaying gratification and learning to recognise the appropriate stages in the development of relationships, and how to love chastely; 

• assessing risks and managing behaviours in order to minimise the risk to health and personal integrity. 

To know and understand:

 • the Church’s teaching on relationships and the nature and meaning of sexual love; 

• the Church’s teaching on marriage and the importance of marriage and family life; 

• the centrality and importance of virtue in guiding human living and loving; 

• the physical and psychological changes that accompany puberty.

Programme and resources

Here at St Joseph’s we will follow a programme called ‘Life to the full’. This programme follows a three stage structure which is repeated across three different learning stages. Within each learning stage there are three modules which are based on the catholic RHE programme. 

Module 1 units: Religious Understanding, Me, my body and my health, emotional well-being and life cycle 

Module 2 units: Religious understanding, personal relationships, keeping safe 

Module 3 units: Religious understanding, living in the wider world.

To find out more information about what your child will be taught and when, see the long term plan below.