Life Skills & Well-being

Year 7 – Building Relationships

Across this half term, Year 7 students will explore what makes relationships healthy, positive and respectful. They will learn about qualities and behaviours that help create safer spaces, both in school and online, and begin to recognise the signs of unhealthy or unbalanced relationships. Lessons will support students in developing realistic expectations for friendships and future romantic relationships, including how media stereotypes can distort these expectations.

Students will be taught how to seek, give and communicate consent clearly and assertively, with reminders about safe and appropriate phone use. A strong emphasis is placed on developing self‑worth and self‑efficacy, helping students understand the importance of valuing themselves and setting personal boundaries. Learning will be assessed through a short assessment at the end of the unit.

Year 8 – Identity and Safe Relationships

Year 8 will focus on identity, growing independence and the development of safe relationships as teenagers move through early adolescence. Students will be introduced to consent and safer sexual decision‑making, learning how to navigate pressures relating to nudes, sexting and the sharing of online images.

The curriculum includes lessons on sextortion, media pressures and the legal and emotional consequences of image sharing, drawing on real‑world cases to highlight the impact of image‑based abuse. Students will also explore wider cultural issues, including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage, understanding the laws, human rights concerns and support available. A short assessment will check understanding at the end of the topic.

Year 9 – Intimacy, Misogyny and the Media

In Year 9, students will explore intimate relationships and how to enjoy closeness and connection without feeling pressured into sex. They will learn about safe and age‑appropriate understandings of sexual wellbeing, including sex products and the myths surrounding them.

Lessons also examine how media, pornography and gender norms shape expectations of intimacy, body image and behaviour. Students will explore misogyny, online influencers and harmful narratives, learning how to question and critically evaluate what they see. Learning concludes with an assessment of key knowledge and attitudes.

Year 10 – Extremism, Diversity and Inclusion

This half term, Year 10 will study extremism, radicalisation and the importance of shared values in diverse communities. Students will learn about The Equality Act, protected characteristics and what it means to uphold respect, belonging and inclusion in modern Britain.

Lessons explore multiculturalism, community cohesion and how extremist narratives—whether far‑right, religious or rooted in online subcultures such as incel ideology—seek to divide societies. Students will develop skills to recognise online radicalisation, challenge harmful content and safely seek help when needed.

During the mock exam window, students will also undertake independent revision sessions to support their academic progress.

Year 11 – Independence and Post‑16 Preparation

Throughout the term, Year 11 will work on building independence and preparing for life beyond school. Students will take part in independent revision, intervention sessions and work with mentor booklets to support their exam preparation and wellbeing.

Lessons will help students develop resilience, manage their workload and refine effective study habits, while also preparing them for increased independence in their post‑16 pathways. The focus remains on supporting students academically, emotionally and practically as they approach their final examinations.

• Relationships & Sexual Health Education Policy (PDF)

These links provide a context to the Protected Characteristic; Gender Reassignment'. It discusses Gender Reassignment discrimination and gives examples of direct and indirect types of discrimination. In LS&W, we look at how the law protects against Gender Reassignment discrimination, harassment and victimisation. We also look at how trans people are portrayed in society and discuss views and opinions on how this can impact participation in sport. If you would like to see more detail on this, please refer to our curriculum plan, or contact the Personal Development team.

• Gender reassignment discrimination - Equality and Human Rights Commission

• What is gender reassignment discrimination? - YouTube

This link will provide a context to the Protected Characteristic; Marriage and Civil Partnership'. It discusses marriage and civil partnership discrimination and gives examples of direct and indirect types of discrimination. In LS&W, we look at how the law protects against Marriage and Civil Partnership discrimination, harassment and victimisation through life, no matter what your beliefs or circumstances are. We look at how there are many types of non-nuclear families.  If you would like to see more detail on this, please refer to our curriculum plan, or contact the Personal Development team.

• Marriage and civil partnership discrimination | Equality and Human Rights Commission
• What is marriage and civil partnership discrimination? - YouTube

These links provide a context to the Protected Characteristic; Pregnancy & Maternity. It discusses Pregnancy & Maternity discrimination and gives examples of direct and indirect types of discrimination. In LS&W, we look at how the law protects against Pregnancy & Maternity discrimination, harassment and victimisation. We also cover large aspects of women's health, from menstruation to menopause. If you would like to see more detail on this, please refer to our curriculum plan, or contact the Personal Development team.

• What is pregnancy and maternity discrimination? - YouTube

• https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/pregnancy-and-maternity-discrimination

This link will provide a context to the Protected Characteristic; Race'. It discusses Race discrimination and gives examples of direct and indirect types of discrimination. In LS&W, we look at how the law protects against Race discrimination, harassment and victimisation through life. As well as the fact that race can mean your colour, or your nationality (including your citizenship). It can also mean your ethnic or national origins, which may not be the same as your current nationality. For example, you may have Chinese national origins and be living in Britain with a British passport. Race also covers ethnic and racial groups. This means a group of people who all share the same protected characteristic of ethnicity or race.  A racial group can be made up of two or more distinct racial groups, for example black Britons, British Asians, British Sikhs, British Jews, Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers.

If you would like to see more detail on this, please refer to our curriculum plan, or contact the Personal Development team.

• Race discrimination | Equality and Human Rights Commission
• What is race discrimination? | Equality law: discrimination explained

These links provide a context to the Protected Characteristic; Religion or Belief'. It discusses Religion or Belief discrimination and gives examples of direct and indirect types of discrimination. In LS&W, we look at how the law protects against Religion or Belief discrimination, harassment and victimisation through life. It is also discussed through EP lessons, which can be viewed on the Humanities' curriculum plan. If you would like to see more detail on this, please refer to our curriculum plan, or contact the Personal Development team.

• Religion or belief discrimination | Equality and Human Rights Commission

• What is religion or belief discrimination? - YouTube

This link will provide a context to the Protected Characteristic; Age.

It discusses age discrimination and gives examples of direct and indirect types of discrimination. In LS&W, we look at how the law protects against age discrimination, harassment and victimisation at work from employers and employees.

• What is age discrimination? 
• What is age discrimination? | Equality law: discrimination explained

This link will provide a context to the Protected Characteristic; Disability'. It discusses disability discrimination and gives examples of direct and indirect types of discrimination. In LS&W, we look at how the law protects against disability discrimination, harassment and victimisation in life, sport, school & work. If you would like to see more detail on this, please refer to our curriculum plan, or contact the Personal Development team.

• Disability discrimination | Equality and Human Rights Commission

• What is disability discrimination? | Equality law: discrimination explained - YouTube