PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)

PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) can mean all things to all people, but in a positive way. It enables schools to analyse what they offer to students and to use PSHE programmes to provide the final rounded curriculum. This is not easy as PSHE is not so much a ‘subject’ as a group of learning experiences that need careful binding together lest they become amorphous.

PSHE at its best brings emotional literacy, social skills and healthy attitudes to the core studies of the history, economic state and social make-up of the local and wider community

Ofsted has praised some schools’ multi-faceted approaches to creating a caring and coherent school and reaching out to the local communities, and some schools for delivering sex and relations programmes effectively, and some for their commitment to equality and diversity. Visits and activities outside the classroom can act not only as focal points for a school’s work but as catalysts to reinforce the messages contained in the courses.

In some ways it does not matter where the visit is to. The importance is how well they are planned, the matching of the experiences to the aim, and the enthusiasm staff and students bring to it.

So, typically learning for PSHE takes place whilst undertaking other activities. Here we list a range of ideas which the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom suggest as activities which can engender excellent experiences to benefit students in this area.

Attitudes and values

  • Talking about an object in a museum, or visiting a place of worship can give insight into issues, other cultures or periods of history.
  • Creating your own work of art can give rise to explorations and understandings about the world and our place in it
  • A visit to a farm can stimulate debate about animal husbandry and food production, and provide a context for designing a Fairtrade enterprise.
  • Adventure education can provide opportunities to show different skills, such as leadership or teamwork.
  • Seeing a play on the stage can bring a text alive and stimulate conversations about the values and actions of the characters.
  • A residential can provide a different setting for conversations about what we believe and what we think is important.

Confidence and resilience

  • Learning a new skill, such as map-reading or how to look at a painting, builds independence and confidence.
  • Adventure education enables young people to test themselves in various ways and develop new aptitudes and dispositions.
  • For young people with disabilities, a residential trip can foster independence and give them a rare opportunity to build close relationships outside the family.
  • Planning their own experience or activity helps young people to gain confidence in a wide range of project planning skills.  It can develop resilience in dealing with conflicting opinions, and in finding solutions to project challenges.

Communication and social skills

  • A drama workshop requires teamwork and helps, to strengthen friendship groups.
  • A residential experience enables staff to get to know young people, and young people get to know each other, discovering different aspects of each others’ personalities.
  • An experience, such as visiting a power station, stimulates discussion and encourages young people to share ideas and opinions.
  • A musical performance gives young people a feeling of achievement and a sense of personal success.
  • Young people planning their own programme or activities gives them voice and choice and ensures their active involvement.
  • Undertaking voluntary work in the community gives young people a sense of making a positive contribution.

Knowledge of the world beyond the classroom

  • Young people who live in the country may encounter a town or city for the first time or vice versa.
  • Environmentalists, town planners, artists, curators, scientists, politicians, musicians, dancers and actors can all act as new and powerful role models.
  • Going to an arts venue can encourage young people to try the experience again.
  • Recording the reminiscences of older people gives young people new insight into their community, and brings historical events alive.
  • Going to a local civic institution like a town hall builds knowledge of how communities function.
  • A school or youth council enables young people to learn about and participate in democratic processes
  • Visiting the library enables young people to find out what they have to offer – apart from lending books.
  • Children and young people with profound learning difficulties and disabilities may not often experience visits to galleries, concerts or the countryside because of the difficulties of transport and personal care which parents have to consider and cannot always manage alone. Educational visits may provide the only means for these young people to have such experiences.

Physical development and well-being

  • Visiting a park, field studies centre or making a school garden all provide physical activity and develop an interest in the environment.
  • Participating in recreational activities help to develop physical well-being and the growth of confidence.
  • Many learning outside the classroom activities can also provide attractive alternatives to competitive sports and can lead to a lifelong interest in healthy physical recreation.

Emotional spiritual and moral development

  • An integrated dance workshop with able bodied and disabled participants can help young people empathise and develop awareness of disability.
  • Activities in the natural environment can encourage a feeling of awe and wonder, and an appreciation of silence and solitude.
  • Visiting a place of worship develops an understanding of religion, reflection and spirituality.
  • Engaging with young people in conversations about values and beliefs, right and wrong, good and bad supports their moral development.

Main organisations:

PSHE Association

National Centre for Citizenship and the Law

Inclusion: NASEN

Venues for this Curriculum

Commanding a vital ford over the River Tweed, Norham was one of the strongest of the border castles, and the most often attacked by the Scots. Besieged at least 13 times - once for nearly a year by Robert Bruce - it was called 'the most dangerous and adventurous place in the country'.

Penrith Castle was begun at the end of the 14th century by Ralph Neville, who played a key role in defending this area against the Scots. It was later transformed into a luxurious residence by Richard, Duke of Gloucester (subsequently Richard III). Surviving to their full height, the castle walls stand in a public park.

History

A fortified farmhouse with thick stone walls, of a type distinctive to the troubled 16th century Anglo-Scottish borders. The living quarters were only accessible at first floor level.

Set in splendid walking country, on the Reivers Route cycle trail. 

Set in the charming village of Etal by a ford over the River Till, this Northumberland castle is the ideal location for a school trip.

Built by Robert Manners as a defence against Scots raiders in the mid 14th century, it fell to James IV's invading Scots army in 1513, immediately before their catastrophic defeat at nearby Flodden. 

The ruins of an Augustinian priory founded by the Bruce family, afterwards Kings of Scotland. They are dominated by the dramatic skeleton of the 14th century church's east end.

Founded in 1786 this restored cotton mill - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site - was powered by the river Clyde and is situated close to the Falls of Clyde.

Inspiring Future Engineers and Scientists

The EDT is the largest provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) enrichment activities for the UK youth.

Our range of work related learning schemes provide opportunities for 11-21 year olds to enhance their technical, personal and employability skills through industry-led projects, industrial placements and specialised courses.

The Denny Tank is located in West Dunbartonshire, in the town of Dumbarton on the River Clyde, close to Dumbarton Castle. It was built by the Denny family, Victorian shipbuilders and designers, famous for their work on the Cutty Sark and inventors of the Denny helicopter and Denny hovercraft.

Situated in gently rolling hills overlooking Kinghorn Loch in Fife, Craigencalt Ecology Centre was established in 1998 to give people a direct experience of the natural environment. 

The Earthship is a demonstration eco house. It is run as a visitor centre and is open throughout the year for both drop in visitors and booked tours. 

Welcome to Kirkcaldy Galleries, the town’s new cultural venue and visitor attraction. Situated in the heart of Kirkcaldy, a £2.5million refurbishment programme has restored many of the original features of the War Memorial building, as well providing a fresh, contemporary space for visitors to enjoy.

After receiving a warm welcome at the new reception area, you can explore

Activities include Tri Golf fun course, adventure playground, the visitor centre where you can pick up trail maps for the circular walk and sculpture trail, plus plenty of open space to ramble and explore.

The ICC is a truly world-class venue and one of Europe’s most high profile conference centres, welcoming over 350 events and more than 300,000 delegates each year. Unrivalled experience, a fantastic reputation and uniquely flexible, purpose-built space in a great location enable the ICC team to deliver events beyond expectations.

English Heritage stepped in to rescue J. W. Evans Silver Factory in 2008. With the completion of the repairs programme, the site opened to the public in summer 2011.

Established in 1881, J. W. Evans is one of the most complete surviving historic factories in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. To walk into the factory today is to enter a lost industrial world.

See a show at one of the West Midlands' most famous venues! Visit our website for full details.

Tours

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to go backstage at the Alex? Why not book one of our backstage theatre tours? Each tour will give you a unique insight into one of the most historic theatres in the West Midlands

Selly Manor is a museum steeped in history, in one of Birmingham's oldest buildings. Dating back to the 1300s, in 1907, busy establishing his vision of a Bournville village, local chocolate maker and philanthropist, George Cadbury, saved it from demolition and employed architect William Alexander Harvey to oversee its relocation, to Bournville Green.

Clay and Play is a paint your own pottery shop. We have an extensive range of items to choose from. You paint it then we glaze and fire it in our kiln. Its then ready to collect 5-7 days later. We can post them to you for a small extra cost.

A unique little museum with over 5,000 objects relating to the Birmingham Steel pen trade and the history of writing. Very interactive, you can make your own pen and try your hand at calligraphy. 

Restored to its former Edwardian glory, downstairs there are exhibition rooms explaining the fascinating history of the house's former occupants. An interactive train set, toy box and rooms full of antique artefacts. Outside, 7 acres of Botanic Garden to be explored and enjoyed.

Fifteen acres of safe, secure, clean landscaped gardens with lawns and four glasshouses for children to explore. Indoor and outdoor activities for children and all the family. Picnic areas, outdoor theatre and music during the summer months.

A multi-tiered soft play experience with all the classic and contemporary adventure features one expects from modern soft play and dedicated toddler zone besides.

The Play Farm is an indoor, themed soft play centre for children aged 0 to 12 years (maximum 148 cms in height), with multiple levels of adventure play equipment with all the kids' favourites and a dedicated toddler zone.

Colourful floral displays from spring to autumn!

Flower-filled park containing a sensory garden, an exotic glasshouse, a lake with ducks and swans, and a boating pond. There is also a nearby ship-themed adventure play area (see full details for information).

Things to enjoy

The Art Gallery & Museum has a permanent collection of over 11,000 objects in the fields of art, crafts, sculpture, local and social history, archaeology and ethnography. Most have been donated by local people, beginning in the 1860s and continuing to the present day. 

The Pottery Paint Shop is a relaxed, fun place to pop in at any time and let the artist in you free.

Newly refurbished play area with many classic soft play features, all in clean colourful decor.

Dedicated baby toddler area, slides, balls, and everything you've come to expect from indoor play including cafe and visibility seating.

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