KS4 Values - RSE, British Values & Personal Development
UTC Leeds Values Curriculum
Values is a vital part of the learning that our students take part in whilst at UTC Leeds. At other schools and colleges, students might see PSHE on their timetables, however here at UTC Leeds we prefer the idea of Values. This subject is all about exploring the choices that our young people will make as teenagers and as adults.
With students arriving at the start of KS4, our learners’ understanding of Religious Education, British Values, PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education), Careers and RSE (Relationship & Sex Education), can vary.
It is our intention to provide all students with a deep understanding of all of these areas during Key Stage 4 and to ensure that students leave the UTC as responsible, empathetic citizens who understand what is required for them to navigate, and have a positive impact on society. In particular, we aim to show students how their own values relate to the interactions they will have with others both in the workplace and in society at large.
Why is RSE a part of the UTC Leeds Curriculum?
RSE helps students to:
- Develop healthy and respectful relationships
- Understand consent and personal boundaries
- Make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing
- Stay safe online and offline
- Recognise unhealthy or abusive behaviours
- Prepare for adulthood, employment and independent living
- Access reliable support and health services when needed
What topics will be covered?
- Healthy relationships, love and respect
- Consent, boundaries and communication
- Sexual health, contraception and STIs
- Pregnancy, fertility and reproductive health
- Online safety, pornography and intimate images
- Sexual harassment, abuse, exploitation and coercion
- The law, rights and responsibilities
- Equality, diversity and respect for different beliefs and lifestyles
- British Values – democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
- Religious and ethical perspectives on relationships, sex, marriage, family and personal choices
- RE and worldviews – understanding how different religions and beliefs approach relationships, sexuality and family life
- Personal responsibility, decision-making and preparing for adult life
How is our Currciulum Delivered?
To ensure that all students have sufficient time to engage with these important topics, the programme of study is delivered in a number of different ways:
Assemblies
Many topics are shared through whole year group assemblies. These are delivered by a range of different staff as well as external providers where appropriate. The focus of these sessions is to share concepts related to topics within the values curriculum and provoke students to reflect on their own opinions and experiences.
Profile Team morning sessions
All students receive a weekly profile team session that is dedicated to the values curriculum. Each session is guided by staff but centres around student-led conversation. The focus is to provide a safe environment in which students can share their own opinions as well as hearing the opinions and thoughts of others. These sessions also allow the college to measure student retention of the important knowledge that they have explored during their 50 minute Profile Team Curriculum Sessions.
Values Curriculum Sessions
All students receive 50 minutes per week which is dedicated to the delivery of the Values curriculum. These sessions are sometimes led by representatives from organisations such as local businesses or charities but typically the lessons are delivered by teachers from UTC Leeds and they focus on challenging concepts that both the College and UK Government recognise are vital to the development and wellbeing of young people.
Drop down days
Within the curriculum, there are a number of drop-down days. These allow students to immerse themselves in the programme and interact with a range of issues. These sessions aim to be more interactive and allow more time for collaborative learning.
Values Within the Curriculum
Although Religious Education, PSHE, RSE, Careers and British Values are covered within the activities previously mentioned, a number of these topics are revisited in the context of other subjects within the curriculum. In these instances, teachers will endeavour to use the shared language developed in the programme of study, illustrated in this document below.
How will students be assessed?
Opinions and beliefs regarding the topics in the programme of study are subjective and therefore difficult to assess. We therefore assess students on the following:
Engagement – In line with school policy, students are awarded Attitude to Learning grades of 1-5 for how well they engage with these sessions and the maturity they show when dealing with difficult concepts.
Comprehension – To test understanding, students complete a half-termly reflection that allows them to consolidate their learning whilst also enabling staff to identify any areas that may need re-visiting.
Retrieval - To check students' retrieval of key concepts and knowledge.
Parental Right to Withdraw Guidance
We recognise that parents and carers may have questions about Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and the right to withdraw.
Parents and carers can request to withdraw their child from sex education by submitting a written request to the Principal. Following discussion with the Principal, the Academy will, except in exceptional circumstances, respect this request up to three terms before the student turns 16.
From this point, if a student wishes to receive sex education, the Academy will support them to do so. Students cannot be withdrawn from Relationships Education, Health Education, or content relating to human growth and reproduction taught as part of the Science curriculum.
If a student is withdrawn from sex education, they will receive appropriate and purposeful education during this time.
Please refer to our policy for more information. RMAT RSE Policy
