Introduction
PSHE (Personal, Social and Health 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 four elements:

• Conference Days – themed days (three a year) for each year group, using effective guest speakers and high-quality resources.
• Thought for the Week – using tutor time to discuss topical issues, often inspired by newspaper articles, to bridge and enrich the conference days.
• Cross-Curricular – supporting and developing PSHE and Citizenship topics in the main/specialist curriculum.
• Extension – year group activities that sit outside the conference days, but which develop Life Skills, e.g. Year 11 ‘Safe Drive, Stay Alive’ presentation at the Queen’s Theatre.

Conference Days
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.