Life Skills & Well-being

Year 7: Financial Education, Environment, and Careers

Next term, Year 7 students will continue to develop their self-worth and self-efficacy with an assessment consolidating last term's work. They will then move on to explore key elements of financial education, including what money is, where it comes from, and the importance of budgeting, saving, and spending wisely. Lessons will help students understand the difference between wants and needs, as well as the dangers of online fraud—how to spot it and how to stay safe. Careers education will focus on stereotypes and aspirations. The term will conclude with an assessment in the form of a poster presentation, followed by a reflection on their first year at THS and target setting for the year ahead.

Year 8: Online Safety and Healthy Relationships

Year 8 students will begin the term with by ending last term's LS&W unit with an assessment on basic contraception knowledge. They will then be moving on to key lessons around relationships and online safety. They will explore the differences between in-person and online friendships, how to stay safe from online grooming, and how to recognise and respond to cyberbullying. A key part of the term will be Crime Day, spread over multiple sessions, where students will learn about different aspects of crime, safety, and consequences. They will also develop an understanding of how their data is used, how to stay safe with what they share online, and the risks linked to online gaming, including grooming and addiction. The term will end with a poster presentation assessment to consolidate their learning.

Year 9: Employment, Aspirations, and Online Presence

Next term, Year 9 students will finish last term's unit and examine how relationships are portrayed in the media and pornography and how such portrayals can shape expectations. They will assess this topic before moving on to focus on employability skills, including identifying transferable skills, abilities, and interests, as well as understanding young people's employment rights and responsibilities. Lessons will also cover how to manage a personal online brand and adopt habits that support academic and personal progress.

Year 10: Work Experience and Critical Thinking

Year 10 students will finish last term's work by developing their critical thinking by learning to identify fake or misleading information, conflicting views, and Islamophobic or hate-based content. Following this, they will focus on workplace responsibilities and prepare for their Year 10 Work Experience Week through dedicated sessions. After completing their placements, students will evaluate their work experience and reflect on their strengths and future career development. The term will end with an assessment to consolidate their progress.

Year 7:

Year 7 students will focus on understanding diversity, prejudice, and bullying. They will learn about identity, rights, and responsibilities, as well as the importance of living in a diverse society. Lessons will cover challenging prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination related to various aspects of diversity, including family structures, disabilities, religion, ethnicity, and gender. The aim is to help students recognise and support diversity in all its forms.

Year 8:

Year 8 will study different forms of discrimination and how to challenge them. Topics include racism, sexism, gender identity, transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia. Students will also discuss tolerance and resilience, with a focus on managing influences on beliefs and decisions, understanding group dynamics, and recognising the importance of inclusivity and respect in a diverse society.

Year 9:

Year 9 students will explore respectful relationships and family dynamics. They will learn about different types of families, including single-parent, same-sex, blended, adoption and fostering. The lessons will also cover positive relationships at home, managing relationships, understanding conflict, and conflict resolution strategies. Additionally, students will discuss how to handle relationship breakdowns and access support services when needed.

Year 10: 

Year 10 will focus on healthy relationships and the concept of masculinity. Students will discuss relationship values, the impact of social norms on perceptions of masculinity and the consequences of toxic masculinity. They will also explore the opportunities and risks of forming relationships online, the impact of media and pornography on sexual attitudes and behaviours and how to distinguish myths from reality regarding pornography.

Year 11:

Year 11 will concentrate on communication in relationships, with a strong emphasis on understanding consent. Students will learn about the ethical and legal implications of consent, including issues of manipulation and coercion. The curriculum will also cover recognising and responding to pressure, exploitation and victim blaming, as well as understanding asexuality, abstinence, and celibacy. Additionally, they will develop skills for assertive communication and learn how to handle harassment, stalking, and abusive relationships, including accessing support services.

Each year group will also review expectations for behaviour at school and create ground rules for safer spaces, ensuring a respectful and inclusive learning environment.

• 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