Year 9 PSHE Curriculum
Throughout Year 9 PSHE, students will continue to develop the knowledge and skills they need to thrive both in and out of school. They will explore mental health and wellbeing, learning strategies to manage pressures, build resilience and recognise when and how to seek support. Students will deepen their understanding of careers and future pathways, strengthening their financial literacy through learning about money management, budgeting and making informed financial decisions. They will study drug education, examining risks, influences and the impact of choices, and learn how to manage risk in relation to the law, including personal safety and consequences. As part of their growing maturity, students will explore intimate sexual relationships in a safe, age-appropriate and factual way, focusing on consent, healthy relationships and respect. Alongside this, they will learn how to navigate online harms, developing the skills to stay safe, think critically and make responsible decisions in digital spaces.
What will I study?
There are six themes studied throughout PSHE. These include:
- Term 1 – Mental Health and Wellbeing + Financial Literacy
- Term 2 – Careers
- Term 3 – Drug Education + Financial Literacy
- Term 4 – Managing risk in relation to the law
- Term 5 – Intimate sexual relationships
- Term 6 – Navigating online harms
What skills/qualities are required?
- Working with others.
- Communications skills – both verbal and written.
- Respect and understanding of differing viewpoints.
- Ability to work independently.
How will I learn?
Whilst PSHE is mainly taught by tutors in form time using booklets to record learning, a variety of supporting materials are also used. These include outside speakers, video clips, discussion questions and other more interactive activities. Learning is also supported by weekly Head of Year assemblies and House assemblies.
| Topic | Description of Topic | Sub Topic | Lesson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | |||
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1 Mental Health and Wellbeing + Financial Literacy |
Building on previous learning, this unit gives students the opportunity to rehearse essential self-regulation strategies and apply them to new and complex situations. This unit also explores aspects of Financial Literacy. |
Wellbeing for Life |
Managing strong emotions |
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Managing distractions |
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Managing disappointments and setbacks |
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Unhealthy coping strategies |
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Healthy coping strategies |
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Body modifications |
Influences and selfexpression |
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Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign (FLIC) |
How to open a bank account |
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Reading a bank statement |
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2 Careers |
Careers |
What are my skills? |
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What comes after school? |
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Decision Making |
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Take Control of your career journey |
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Working, Earning and Managing Money |
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What is the labour market? |
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Skills Profile |
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| Spring Term | |||
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3 Drug Education + Financial Literacy |
This unit builds on previous learning, focusing on developing skills to manage situations involving alcohol, vapes or other substances. This unit also explores aspects of Financial Literacy. |
Drug education |
Vaping |
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Exploring Attitudes |
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The Law and Managing Risk |
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Alcohol and Cannabis |
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Managing Influence |
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Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign (FLIC) |
How to Save Money |
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4 Managing risk in relation to the law |
This unit helps students to assess the ways young people might be drawn into criminal behaviour, and the impact of breaking the law. This unit also explores aspects of Financial Literacy and Citizenship and British Values |
Home Office: Preventing Involvement in Serious and Organised Crime |
Serious and organised crime |
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National Crime Agency: Exploring Cybercrime |
Causes of cybercrime |
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Effects of cybercrime |
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ACT for Youth |
Run, hide, tell |
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Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign (FLIC) |
How to use a bank card |
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| Summer Term | |||
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5 Intimate sexual relationships |
In this unit, students revisit learning about consent and learn about healthy, safe sexual relationships, including using contraception. This unit also explores aspects of Financial Literacy. |
Consent |
Avoiding assumptions |
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Freedom and capacity to consent |
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Healthy relationships and sexual health |
Relationship values |
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Contraception |
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Sexual health |
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Managing the ending of relationships |
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Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign (FLIC) |
How to manage debt |
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6 Navigating online harms |
This unit explores online harms young people may be exposed to, focusing on how they can respond to deepfake AI images and misogynistic narratives. This unit also explores aspects of Financial Literacy. |
Not just flirting |
Feelings about sharing nudes |
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Digital deception: Understanding deepfakes |
Motivations and consequences |
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Tackling deepfakes |
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Challenging the narrative: thinking critically about misogyny |
Exploring harms and misconceptions |
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Responding to misogyny |
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Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign (FLIC) |
Decision making: a guide to banking |
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