Introduction
PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) and Citizenship are important areas of the wider curriculum. Indeed providing high-quality PSHE and Citizenship provision complements and enriches the main/specialist curriculum. The essence of PSHE and Citizenship involves furnishing pupils with knowledge and skills for life. By so doing we help develop well-rounded, informed and confident citizens. We have chosen to organise and market PSHE and Citizenship under the umbrella of a provision entitled ‘Life Skills’.

Provision
Our Life Skills model is distinguished by 5 elements:

• Keynote - headline information & guidance: themed Conference Days for each year group, using effective guest speakers and quality resources.
• Scheduled - routine information & guidance: using tutor time to discuss topical issues in a 'Thought for the Week' format, with inspiration from newspaper articles.
• Integrated - cross-curricular information & guidance: supporting and developing PSHE and Citizenship topics through the main/specialist curriculum.
• Special - extension information & guidance: year group activities that sit outside the conference days, but which develop Life Skills.
• Web - online information & guidance: quality websites hosting advice and resources for pupils and parents.

Web Resources
teenagehealthfreak.org is a website for 10-16 year olds. It is based on the best-selling 'Teenage Health Freak' series published by Oxford University Press. The web site contains a considerable amount of information about health, relationships, illnesses and other matters relating to young people's lives such as bullying, stress, abuse, etc.
youthhealthtalk.org is a website for young people aged 14 and older. It includes the voices of hundreds of young people on video talking about their experiences of health and health-related issues including depression, chronic illness and sex. The site is based on research carried out at the University of Oxford and is run by the DIPEx Charity.
The information on both of these sites fits in with Key Stages 3 and 4 of the PSHE National Curriculum. Both websites have been developed by doctors experienced in adolescent health - a GP, Dr Ann McPherson and a paediatrician, Dr Aidan Macfarlane.
getconnected.org is a website providing free, confidential service for under-25’s. The site is a signposting service, giving young people direct access to the most appropriate help on any personal well-being issue. Get Connected has been working to help young people for over eleven years.

Conference Days 2010-2011
First Conference day (21st September 2010)
Year 7: Relationships day - Building relationships in school - 'Doves of Peace' activity - 'Bullying and Relationships' talk - Theatre group performance on relationships.
Year 8: Environment day - Eco-activities at Thames Chase - caring for the environment.
Year 9: Relationships day - 'Relationships' talk - Theatre group performance on relationships - project work on relationships.
Year 10: Life Skills day - 'Respect for yourself and others' talk - AimHigher presenation on life after GCSE's - Study skills workshops.
Year 11: World of Work day - Work Experience debrief - Interview techniques workshop - 'The Future' talk.
Year 12: Life Problems day - 'Drug abuse' talk - 'Sex and Relationships' talk - presentation on Open Univerity YASS programme
Year 13: UCAS day - workshops on personal statements and references

Second Conference Day (18th November 2010)
Year 7: Personal Safety day - Bike-ability - Fire Safety - Swimming - Safety on the streets
Year 8: Teamwork day - Stubbers-based activities - teamwork, team-building and leadership
Year 9: Careers day - guest speakers to present on various career paths
Year 10: First Aid day - Red Cross certificated course for all pupils
Year 11: Safety day - Knife crime - sexually-transmitted diseases - 'Safe Drive, Stay Alive' presentation at the Queens Theatre
Year 12: Health day - guest speakers presenting on HIV and from the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust
Year 13: UCAS day - workshops on personal statements and references

Third Conference Day (9th February 2011)
Year 7: Be Healthy day - 'Dangers of drugs and alcohol' presentation - healthy eating - 'Dangers of smoking' production - 'Being healthy' presentation
Year 8: Dangers of Drugs and Alcohol day - 'Dangers of drugs and alcohol' presentation - 'Drugs in sport' workshops - 'Being healthy' presentation - 'Dangers of smoking' production
Year 9: Work and Community day - pupils spent the day in the workplace with family members, with some pupils working with younger children in a neighbouring school
Year 10: Enterprise day - pupils participated in enterprise workshops throughout the day, including writing their CV's
Year 11: Life Skills day - study skills and revision workshops - 'Dangers of Alcohol Abuse' presentation
Year 12: Higher Education day - 'University Life' presentation - homelessness workshops
Year 13: University and Employment day - 'Student Finance' presentation - post-A Level employment workshop

Conference Days 2009-2010
First Conference day (23rd September)
Year 7: ‘Garden of Fear’ activity – ‘Bullying & Relationships’ presentation – ‘Slap happy’ theatrical production.
Year 8: ‘Wall of Hope’ activity – ‘Be Healthy’ activity – ‘Bullying & Relationships’ presentation – ‘Slap Happy’ theatrical production.
Year 9: ‘Relationships’ presentation – ‘Just be good to me’ theatrical production – project work on relationships.
Year 10: ‘Respect for others’ presentation – ‘Healthy Lifestyles’ activity – ‘Study Skills’ workshops.
Year 11: ‘Work Experience’ workshops.
Year 12: ‘Drugs Misuse’ presentation – ‘Sex & Relationships’ presentation – ‘Life in the 6th Form’ workshops.
Year 13: ‘UCAS Personal Statements’ presentation – ‘Writing Personal Statements’ workshops – ‘Life at University’ presentations by former pupils - ‘Life in the 6th Form’ workshops.

Second Conference day (19th November)
Year 7: ‘Safety in the swimming pool’ activity – ‘Bike safety’ workshop – ‘Road safety’ presentation – ‘Fire prevention’ presentation.
Year 8: Eco-related activities at Thames Chase Centre.
Year 9: ‘Exploring Careers’ activities, including guest speakers on fashion, music and law.
Year 10: Red Cross ‘First Aid’ course.
Year 11: ‘Personal Safety’ activities and presentations, including sexually-transmitted diseases, knife crime and the Samaritans.
Year 12: Fairtrade & Enterprise activities, including guest speakers.
Year 13: ‘Ethics’ presentations by Dr. Peter Vardy – ‘Inter-faith forum’ presentations.

Third Conference Day (2nd February)
Year 7: Be Healthy day - practical activities - healthy eating - theatre production on the dangers of smoking and alcohol use
Year 8: Drugs & Alcohol Awarness day - project work on substance abuse - drugs in sport case study - theatre production on the dangers of smoking and alcohol use
Year 9: Community & Citizenship day - the vast majority of pupils spent the day on community projects, e.g. primary schools and Havering Environmental Services - a small number of pupils worked on a citizenship project, developing their own political parties and policies
Year 10: Enterprise & Work day - the world of work project - CV composition - internet safety
Year 11: Study Skills day - pupils explored different techniques to study and revise, e.g. improving memory, constructing association maps, etc.
Year 12: Higher Education & Employment day - the UCAS process, with the University of East Anglia - work after A levels - 'Question Time' activity with local politicians
Year 13: University day - finance presentation by the University of Kent - 'Question Time' activity with local politicians - public speaking workshop

News
A journalist from the ‘Yellow Advertiser’ was present at the ‘Drugs Misuse’ Year 12 presentation on 23rd September, noting that, “A powerful speech delivered to hundreds of youngsters about the dangers of drugs has left a lasting impression.” The presentation was praised my Mrs Bunting, Head of Year 12. Click here to read the full article.