What is PSHE and why is it important?
- Cambridge Online School
- Oct 1
- 3 min read
PSHE stands for 'personal, social, health, and economic' education, and it's an essential subject for students' development. Students cover important topics that are necessary for personal growth as they develop their understanding of the wider world, themselves, and the people around them. All topics are covered at age-appropriate levels, exploring key areas such as online safety and physical and mental health.
Our PSHE Curriculum
Our PSHE curriculum gives students access to critical information about themselves and the many facets of the diverse world around them. We give pupils access to big ideas and conversations, alongside practical experiences, whilst encouraging respect and understanding of the world and people around us. We aim to promote children’s knowledge, self-esteem, emotional well-being and resilience, and to help them to form and maintain worthwhile and positive relationships. Students will be taught to have respect for themselves and for others within our local, national and global communities, particularly as our classes can be multicultural and diverse.
Our curriculum focuses on developing students' key character skills, including decision-making, informed risk-taking, good communication, and self-regulation strategies. We aim to prepare pupils adequately for adult life: its decisions, responsibilities, experiences and opportunities, and to allow pupils to develop fully as emotionally aware and mature human beings.
PSHE Topics
Primary School (Students aged 5 to 11):
Me & My Health - this is me, feelings, strengths and interests, being active, keeping clean, sleep, and more.
Relationships - healthy and unhealthy relationships, maintaining friendships, family and commitment, positive relationships, behaviour and respect, saying sorry, and more.
Safety - online safety, stranger danger, dangers in the home, accidents and emergencies, fireworks and bonfires, and more.
The Wider World - the online world, age restrictions, independence and responsibility, different attitudes to money, courtesy and manners, global warming, and more.
And more...
Secondary School (Students aged 11 to 16):
Living in the Wider World
Relationships, Identity, and Safety
Healthy Living & Responsible Health Choices
Puberty, Emotional Health, and Wellbeing
Sex, Relationships, and Conflict
Prejudice, Values, and Extremism
Careers & Finance
Behaviour & Emotions
Looking after our Health
Preparing for the Wider World - Careers and Enterprise
And more...
Sixth Form (Students aged 16 to 18):
Careers, Finance, and Independence
Health & Wellbeing
Sex, Relationships, and Society
Ageism and Prejudice
Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships
Media Influence
Social Justice
And more...
Why is PSHE important?
Here are some key reasons why PSHE is valuable for children:
Safety & Risk Awareness
PSHE helps children understand risks, whether online, from other people, or from unsafe behaviour, and gives them the tools to stay safe. For example, understanding boundaries, knowing who to speak to when something worries them.
Physical & Mental Health
Topics in PSHE like healthy lifestyles, sleep, exercise, nutrition, emotional wellbeing, and how to manage mental health help children to form good habits early on and prevent problems later.
Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, & Well-being
PSHE gives children vocabulary and strategies for understanding and expressing how they feel, managing emotions, dealing with change, and developing resilience. This supports wellbeing and can help to reduce stress.
Relationships & Respect
Children learn about different kinds of relationships (friendship, family, romantic), about healthy vs unhealthy relationships, consent, respect, and boundaries. This is important both socially and for safeguarding.
Preparing for Later Life & Work
PSHE helps children develop skills that are beneficial both in personal life and in the workplace, such as decision-making, financial literacy, understanding their career options, being responsible citizens, being able to translate values into action, and understanding their rights and responsibilities.
Civic & Social Understanding
It helps children understand diversity, respect people from different backgrounds, understand their own role in society, and think about values, ethics, and citizenship. This helps them become more rounded, aware, and responsible citizens.
In conclusion, PSHE is essential as it equips students with the necessary skills and understanding of themselves, other people, and the diverse world around them. PSHE teaches students to be respectful of others, even when their opinions differ, and to appreciate the similarities and differences between themselves and others. Students are also encouraged to take an interest in careers and future opportunities as they plan out their goals and reflect on what they hope to achieve.
PSHE covers an array of incredibly important topics, with online safety and health and well-being being a key focus across all year groups. It is important for students to understand how to stay safe online and also to understand how to express how they are feeling and who to talk to when they are feeling low. PSHE helps students to reflect on themselves and their attitudes towards important topics.
If you would like to learn more about our PSHE classes, or you're interested in getting started with our online school, please get in touch via the details below.
Comments