Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE)

The PSHCE curriculum at Salford City Academy aims to provide students with knowledge, skills and understanding to prepare them to play a full and active part in society. Citizenship is taught discreetly within the KS3 curriculum timetable one hour per fortnight and PSHE is delivered weekly during tutor time. This is further complemented through additional workshops, enrichment days and assemblies throughout the year.

The PSHCE curriculum incorporates elements from a combination of the United Learning curriculum and the Life Lessons curriculum. This ensures that it is comprehensive and all students receive more than just their statutory PSHCE education. Students can use the knowledge and skills acquired in a range of different scenarios and contexts as they grow and develop into flourishing young citizens ready to make a positive contribution to society.

A carefully sequenced scheme of work where students are assessed both formatively and summatively in PSHCE, brings consistency and progression to our students’ learning in this vital curriculum area.

The curriculum also supports the “Personal Development” and “Behaviour and Attitude” aspects required under the Ofsted Inspection Framework, as well as significantly contributing to the school’s Safeguarding and Equality Duties, the Government’s British Values agenda, and the SMSC (Spiritual, Moral, Social, Cultural) development opportunities provided for our young people, to support them in making a positive contribution to wider society. 

Our PSHCE curriculum seamlessly integrates the statutory RSE programme. The 2019 Relationship, sex and health education curriculum has been fully implemented into our curriculum design. RSE is taught explicitly within the Citizenship curriculum at Key Stage Three and is additionally supported through workshops and assemblies. At Key Stage Four RSE is taught through explicitly through the PSHE curriculum, enrichment days and complimentary workshops and assemblies. The Curriculum for RSE has been designed to support our students lifelong learning about relationships, emotions, looking after their bodies, different types of families, sex, sexuality and sexual health. We aim for our students to acquire the appropriate knowledge to support safe and positive relationships.

As a result of this programme, according to our most recent OFSTED report [2022]:

“Pupils are confident when discussing issues relating to relationships and sex education. They have an age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships. Teachers prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain.”

You can find more information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education-faqs 

The Citizenship curriculum at Salford City Academy exposes students to the most important ideas, issues and legalities that will affect them during their lives. The curriculum is knowledge rich, where students develop the knowledge, awareness and understanding of democracy, the government and how laws are made and upheld. Furthermore, Citizenship equips students with the skills to explore political and social issues critically, evaluate statistical evidence, debate and make justified conclusions. The key themes in the curriculum are: democracy, human rights, society, social responsibility and the British Values.

Our dedicated staff employ a neutral and objective approach, ensuring students receive a balanced and comprehensive understanding of the essential curriculum knowledge. We believe this knowledge will empower them to be responsible, engaged citizens who contribute positively to their local and wider society.

For more detailed information about our PSHCE curriculum please  use the links below.
For a full breakdown of what is taught as part of the Key Stage 3 PSHE and RSE taught as part of Citizenship, please click on the following link: Citizenship curriculum area

You can also view all elements of the PSHE programme of study by clicking on this link: PSCHE tutor time curriculum 2025/26

You can view the Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy by clicking on this link: POLICIES