At Parkside Community School, PSHE is an essential part of our commitment to supporting every young person to grow into a confident, healthy and responsible member of society. Our curriculum equips students with the knowledge, skills and values they need to navigate the opportunities and challenges of modern life—emotionally, socially and academically. Rooted in our school values of Respect, Resilience, Responsibility and Community, PSHE provides the foundations for strong wellbeing, positive relationships and lifelong success.
Our school serves a diverse and vibrant community, and we understand the importance of giving every young person the tools, confidence and support they need to flourish. This means:
PSHE at Parkside is designed to meet the real needs of our students, including local health trends, wellbeing challenges, online influences and the lived experiences of our community.
Our programme follows a clear learning journey from Year 7 to Year 11, built around five key pillars:
Students explore respect, tolerance, democracy, the rule of law and individual liberty—developing character and understanding how to contribute positively to their community. These themes are reinforced through assemblies, tutor time and daily school life.
We raise aspirations and help students plan for their futures through high‑quality careers education, pathways guidance and encounters with employers, supported by our Careers Mark recognition.
Students learn about physical health, sleep, routines, mental health, emotional literacy, coping strategies and healthy lifestyle choices. They are taught how to recognise changes in their wellbeing and where to seek support.
We teach safe, positive and respectful relationships—both offline and online. Topics include consent, communication, recognising risks, healthy boundaries, peer influence, and navigating digital spaces safely.
Learners develop financial awareness, political literacy, community responsibility, and an understanding of rights, responsibilities and how society functions.
Our PSHE curriculum is spiral in design—key ideas are revisited each year at increasing levels of depth and maturity. This ensures that students build secure understanding and age‑appropriate skills over time.
Across each year group, students also experience designated responsive lessons that address emerging issues, community events or trends in local safeguarding data. This makes the curriculum dynamic, relevant and protective.
Alongside formal PSHE lessons, our assembly rota reinforces important themes including:
These assemblies provide an additional structured opportunity to build students’ confidence, character and sense of belonging.
We recognise that personal development extends beyond the classroom. Our PSHE Family Support resources provide practical advice and trusted signposting on:
Students also have access to a highly trained pastoral and safeguarding team, and can use our confidential Red Button system to raise concerns at any time.
Our curriculum is carefully designed to be inclusive and accessible. We adapt materials and provide additional support for:
Lessons are scaffolded with modelling, visual aids, pre‑teaching of vocabulary, and Thrive‑informed strategies. External specialists contribute to sessions where appropriate, ensuring sensitivity and expertise.
Parkside sits within an area experiencing a range of social and health challenges. Our PSHE curriculum directly reflects:
This ensures our students receive education that is both relevant and protective, empowering them to make positive choices now and in the future.
At Parkside Community School, learning doesn’t end when the bell rings. Parkside Xtra is our enriched extra‑curricular programme designed to extend personal development beyond the classroom and ensure every student has the opportunity to explore interests, build new skills and grow in confidence. Through a wide, inclusive range of clubs, activities, creative arts, sports, academic support sessions and targeted interventions, Parkside Xtra helps students strengthen their sense of identity, develop resilience, and discover passions that can shape their futures.
The programme offers meaningful opportunities for students to develop character, practise teamwork and leadership, engage in positive relationships, and make informed, healthy choices. Activities such as music, choir, band practice, sports teams, creative arts, chess, Duke of Edinburgh, digital media clubs, reading, gardening, and academic study support all contribute to a rich and vibrant school culture where every student can find their place.
Parkside Xtra also supports wellbeing through structured pastoral spaces, quiet‑study sessions, arts‑based opportunities and relationship‑building activities that promote emotional literacy and positive mental health. Whether students want to try something completely new, challenge themselves, or pursue a long‑standing interest, Parkside Xtra ensures they have the platform to grow, thrive and feel a strong sense of belonging. It reflects our belief that every student deserves access to experiences that broaden horizons, enrich their development and empower them for life in modern Britain.
At Parkside Community School, we believe strong partnerships with parents and carers are essential to effective PSHE and RSHE education. We are committed to open communication, ensuring families have clear access to curriculum information, including how sensitive topics are taught and which materials are used in lessons. Through information evenings, online updates, parent voice surveys and opportunities to view teaching resources, we aim to create a transparent and trusting relationship in which parents feel informed, included and reassured. By sharing upcoming content and signposting high‑quality external support, we empower families to continue important conversations at home, reinforcing key messages around healthy relationships, online safety, mental wellbeing and personal responsibility. This collaborative approach ensures that parents and carers are active partners in supporting their child’s development, confidence and wellbeing.
Parents and carers are warmly invited to view a selection of exemplar lessons from our RSHE curriculum, British Values programme and Community Response lessons, offering full transparency about what students learn and how we support their personal development.
Through PSHE, we aim to develop: