RSE & PSHE

PSHE and RSE at St Martin’s empower children with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to thrive in modern life.

Using the KAPOW curriculum, we deliver engaging, age-appropriate lessons that build emotional literacy, resilience, and respectful relationships. Children learn to understand themselves and others, make informed choices, and navigate challenges with confidence. Our curriculum covers physical and emotional wellbeing, diversity, safety, and citizenship, helping pupils grow into thoughtful, responsible individuals. Through dedicated RSE lessons, children explore healthy relationships and personal boundaries in a safe, supportive environment.

At St Martin's, RSE/PSHE is more than a subject—it’s a gateway to wellbeing, respect, and preparing for life in modern Britain.

Intent

At St Martin’s our PSHE and RSE curriculum is rooted in our Christian vision and the belief that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). This verse inspires our commitment to nurturing children who are confident, compassionate, and equipped to flourish in all aspects of life.

Using the Kapow Primary scheme, we aim to:

Promote dignity and respect: Children learn to value themselves and others as unique individuals, created and loved by God.
Support emotional wellbeing and resilience: Pupils are encouraged to develop inner strength, self-worth, and strategies for mental and spiritual wellbeing, trusting in God’s guidance.
Encourage wise choices and personal responsibility: We help children make informed decisions about their health, safety, and relationships, grounded in Christian values.
Celebrate diversity and inclusion: Our curriculum fosters empathy and respect for all, reflecting Jesus’ command to love our neighbour.
Prepare for life in modern Britain and beyond: Children explore citizenship, economic wellbeing, and global responsibility, growing into courageous advocates for justice, peace, and hope.

Kapow’s spiral curriculum ensures progression and revisiting of key themes, allowing pupils to deepen their understanding year by year. Our approach is inclusive, age-appropriate, and aligned with both statutory guidance, ensuring that every child is nurtured to grow in wisdom, hope, community, and dignity.

Implementation

Curriculum Structure: We follow Kapow Primary’s spiral curriculum, which revisits key themes across year groups to deepen understanding. The programme is structured around three core themes: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships, and Living in the Wider World.
Lesson Delivery: PSHE and RSE lessons are taught weekly by class teachers using Kapow’s high-quality resources, including videos, interactive activities, and discussion prompts. Lessons are age-appropriate and inclusive, reflecting the diverse needs of our pupils.
Safe and Respectful Spaces: We create safe environments for discussion, where pupils feel valued and heard. Teaching is sensitive to individual needs and promotes mutual respect.
Cross-Curricular Links: PSHE and RSE are embedded across the curriculum, with links to science, computing, RE, and PE. Assemblies and themed weeks (e.g. Anti-Bullying Week, Mental Health Awareness) reinforce key messages.
Safeguarding and Inclusivity: Our approach is underpinned by safeguarding principles. We create safe spaces for discussion, respect all identities, and ensure that content is inclusive and representative.
Parental Engagement: We work in partnership with parents and carers, sharing curriculum plans and offering opportunities for dialogue. We respect the role of parents as primary educators in matters of relationships and values.
Assessment and Monitoring: Teachers assess pupil understanding through observation, discussion, and reflection activities. Subject leaders monitor delivery and impact through pupil voice, staff feedback, and lesson observations.

Impact

The implementation of Kapow Primary’s PSHE and RSE curriculum has had a transformative impact on our pupils’ personal development, emotional wellbeing, and readiness for life beyond the classroom.

Pupil Outcomes

Confident Communicators: Pupils articulate their thoughts and feelings with increasing confidence, showing empathy and active listening in discussions and peer interactions.
Emotionally Literate: Children demonstrate a growing ability to recognise and regulate their emotions, contributing to a calm, respectful learning environment.
Healthy Choices: Pupils understand the importance of physical and mental health, and make informed decisions about diet, hygiene, exercise, and online safety.
Respectful Relationships: Children build and maintain positive relationships, showing kindness, tolerance, and respect for diversity in all its forms.
Prepared for Transitions: By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils are equipped with the knowledge and resilience to navigate the transition to secondary school and the wider world.

Safeguarding and Inclusion

Pupils feel safe and supported, knowing how to seek help and recognising trusted adults.
The curriculum promotes inclusivity, ensuring all children feel seen, valued, and respected regardless of background or identity.

Whole-School Impact

PSHE and RSE are embedded across the curriculum, enhancing the school’s ethos and contributing to improved behaviour, attendance, and pupil wellbeing.
Staff report increased confidence in delivering sensitive topics, supported by Kapow’s structured resources and training.

Year Group Overviews

PHSE Year Group Summary

Big Ideas

Our PSHE and RSE curriculum is underpinned by key themes that support children’s personal development and wellbeing. These include relationships, health, safety, citizenship, and economic understanding. The curriculum promotes respect, empathy, resilience, and informed decision-making. Pupils explore identity, diversity, and equality, helping them understand themselves and others. Lessons are designed to foster emotional literacy, self-awareness, and responsible behaviour. These big ideas are revisited throughout the curriculum, enabling children to build a secure understanding of how to navigate life’s challenges, form healthy relationships, and contribute positively to society. It also supports British values and prepares pupils for modern life.

Content

Our PSHE and RSE curriculum covers all statutory requirements for Relationships and Health Education, alongside broader PSHE themes. The content is organised into five key areas: Families and Relationships, Health and Wellbeing, Safety and the Changing Body, Citizenship, and Economic Wellbeing. Year 6 includes an additional focus on Identity and Transition. Pupils learn about friendship, emotions, puberty, online safety, financial choices, and community roles. Lessons include age-appropriate sex education, first aid, and digital literacy. The curriculum is enriched with videos, role-play, and real-life scenarios, ensuring pupils gain practical knowledge and skills to support their physical, emotional, and social development.

Sequencing

Our PSHE and RSE curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure progression across year groups. Each of the five key areas is revisited annually, allowing pupils to build on prior learning and deepen their understanding. Concepts are introduced in age-appropriate ways, with increasing complexity as children mature. Lessons follow a spiral structure, reinforcing key ideas while introducing new content. This approach supports long-term retention and ensures pupils are well-prepared for future learning. The curriculum also includes transition lessons to support pupils moving between key stages. Sequencing is designed to be flexible, allowing us to adapt delivery to meet pupils’ needs.

Oracy and Vocabulary

Oracy and vocabulary development are embedded throughout our PSHE and RSE curriculum. Pupils are encouraged to express their thoughts, feelings, and opinions through structured discussions, role-play, and collaborative activities. Each unit introduces key vocabulary related to emotions, relationships, health, and safety, helping children articulate complex ideas with confidence. Teachers model respectful language and support pupils in using it appropriately. Vocabulary is revisited regularly to reinforce understanding and support retention. Oracy activities promote active listening, empathy, and respectful debate, helping pupils develop communication skills that are essential for building positive relationships and navigating social situations effectively.

Assessment of Pupils

Assessment in our PSHE and RSE curriculum is designed to be formative and reflective. Teachers use questioning, discussion, and observation to assess pupils’ understanding and engagement. Activities such as mind maps, role-play, and written reflections provide insight into pupils’ personal development and learning. While formal testing is not used, teachers track progress through pupil voice, self-assessment, and end-of-unit tasks. The curriculum includes guidance for assessing knowledge, attitudes, and skills, helping teachers identify areas for support and celebrate growth. This approach ensures assessment is meaningful, supportive, and aligned with the personal nature of PSHE and RSE learning.

Reasonable Adjustments for Pupils with SEND

Our PSHE and RSE curriculum is inclusive and adaptable, ensuring all pupils can access and benefit from the learning. Lessons are designed with clear structures, visual aids, and differentiated activities to support diverse needs. Teachers make reasonable adjustments such as simplified language, additional modelling, and alternative formats for responses. The curriculum promotes emotional literacy and self-regulation, which are particularly supportive for pupils with SEND. Opportunities for repetition, small group work, and personalised support help reinforce key concepts. Resources are designed to be flexible, allowing teachers to tailor delivery to meet individual needs and ensure meaningful participation.

Respect