Personal, Social and Health Education is taught in all year groups.  In year 5 it is taught by form tutors and the programme of study includes strategies to adapt to and settle into the middle school environment, for example making new friends, collaborative group work skills and personal organisation.  In all year groups, PSHE  covers the key themes of sustainable development, the world of work, personal safety and health.  Drugs Education and Sex & Relationships Education are also part of the PSHE curriculum.  The focus of the teaching in PSHE across all year groups is split between acquiring new knowledge and developing the skills, attitudes and values of the pupils.

 

In addition to the hour a week set aside for PSHE, the school adopts a cross-curricular approach to the above themes and this is reflected both in teaching across the curriculum and in the school’s code of conduct.

 

In years 7 and 8 it is taught through the themes of sustainable development, the world of work, health and relationships.   The PSHE curriculum is a focus for developing the skills, attitudes and values of pupils and does not only occur in the classroom.  

 

 

Stoke by Nayland Middle School is accredited under the Healthy Schools initiative.

 

A healthy school is one that ‘understands the importance of investing in health to assist in the process of raising levels of pupil achievement and improving standards.   It also recognises the need to provide both a physical and social environment that is conducive to learning.’

 

We fully subscribe to this view and see it as a way forward for our school. By promoting a healthy lifestyle in all its aspects it enables our pupils to get the best out of school and life generally.

In school we promote:

• a school ethos that will not tolerate bullying but promotes care, co-operation,mentoring and the reward of effort and achievement  
• pupil participation through the School Council, which gives us a better idea of pupil needs and concerns and imbues pupils with a sense of responsibility and a willingness to participate
• a comprehensive age-appropriate drug education programme including alcohol and tobacco agreed by the school community and supported by clear guidelines 
• the provision of a sex and relationships programme meeting pupil needs, put together with representatives of the school community 
• the encouragement of healthy eating for pupils, both through the curriculum and a milk bar run in partnership with Suffolk County Council 
• improving the school environment with outdoor facilities provided by the PTA for packed lunches
  
• the promotion of the school community nurse’s ‘drop in’ facility as a confidential source of advice for pupils' health and emotional concerns.

 

A healthy school means that pupils, like adults, learn better when they feel safe and secure, stimulated, valued, challenged and rewarded.

 

 

During years 5 and 6 SRE is taught through the themes of health, relationships and citizenship, building on the work of the primary schools.   In years 7 and 8 pupils are taught about risk assessment related to sexual behaviour and coping with change.   Parents are informed by letter before their child is to be taught SRE.

 

Parents have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the SRE programme provided in school except from those parts included in the statutory National Curriculum.   The school will offer parents who withdraw their children the DfES standard pack of information when available.