At St. Patrick's, we are committed to providing a holistic, age-appropriate, and nurturing curriculum that equips our pupils with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to lead safe, healthy, and happy lives. 

Our approach to PSHE is deeply rooted in our school mission statement: "Faithfully following in the footsteps of Jesus, we serve, love and learn together, inspiring each other to excellence." Through our curriculum, we strive to show our children how to love and respect themselves and others, serving our community with kindness and learning how to make positive, healthy choices. 

To deliver this vital learning effectively, we utilise two highly-respected schemes of work that support our Catholic ethos and school values.

 

📖 Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education

Taught through: The Story Project 

We believe that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for emotional learning. To teach PSHE, we use The Story Project, an innovative, literature-based scheme that introduces complex personal and social concepts through high-quality children’s books in an age-appropriate manner. The teaching of British Values and Protected Characteristics is woven throughout the curriculum.

• How it works: Each lesson centres around a carefully chosen story or character. By exploring the challenges, emotions, and dilemmas faced by characters in a book, children learn to reflect on their own lives and the wider world in a safe, relatable way. 

• Key areas covered: Emotional literacy, mental wellbeing, personal safety, healthy lifestyles, and understanding our place in the community. 

• Why we love it: It builds deep empathy, encourages open classroom discussions, and supports our pupils' reading and literacy skills alongside their personal development.

You can find out more about The Story Project here.

 

❤️ Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

Taught through: A Journey in Love 

As part of our commitment to nurturing the whole child, our statutory Relationships Education (and non-statutory Sex Education in Year 6) is taught through A Journey in Love. This is the recommended programme of study for teaching RSE in Catholic schools. It is a progressive, developmental scheme designed to guide children gently as they grow, mirroring our mission to serve and love one another. 

• How it works: The scheme is structured to support children at every stage of their primary school life, from Reception to Year 6. It approaches relationships through a framework of love, respect, and unique human worth. 

• Key areas covered: The curriculum focusses on five core areas of child development—physical, social, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. It teaches children about friendships, family structures, body boundaries, personal hygiene, and how our bodies change as we grow. 

• Why we love it: It handles sensitive topics with immense care, ensuring that all information is developmentally appropriate and rooted in a positive celebration of life and healthy, respectful relationships. 
  
   

✋ Your Rights as a Parent: The Right to Withdraw

We firmly believe that parents are the prime educators of their children, and we work in close partnership with you at every stage. Under national guidelines, it is important to understand which elements of the curriculum are mandatory and which are optional: 

• Relationships and Health Education: These elements are statutory for all primary school pupils. This means there is no parental right to withdraw children from these lessons, as they cover vital information regarding safety, friendships, healthy bodies, and emotional wellbeing. 

• Year 6 Sex Education: Within the Year 6 units of A Journey in Love, there are non-statutory elements that explicitly cover human conception and reproduction. Parents have a statutory right to withdraw their child from these specific sex education lessons. 

Next Steps for Parents: If you wish to exercise your right to withdraw your child, we ask that you arrange a meeting with the Headteacher to discuss your request so that alternative arrangements can be made for your child during those specific sessions. 

 

💬 Information for Parents and Carers

If you would like further information about The Story Project or A Journey in Love, please contact your child's class teacher.