KS5 Values - RSE, British Values & Personal Development
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.
Our learners’ understanding of Religious Education, British Values, PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education), Careers and RSE (Relationship & Sex Education), varies significantly.
It is our intention to reinforce our learners' understanding of all of these areas during Key Stage 5 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 in the work place 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?
What Students Learn in Key Stage 5
- Healthy adult relationships – respect, trust, communication and boundaries
- Consent and sexual relationships – informed choices, capacity and responsibility
- Sexual health – contraception, STIs, testing and accessing healthcare
- Pregnancy, fertility and reproductive choices
- LGBTQ+ relationships and identity – respect, equality and inclusion
- Online relationships and digital safety – pornography, image sharing and online exploitation
- Sexual harassment, abuse, coercion and exploitation – recognising risks and seeking support
- The law and individual rights – age of consent, equality and legal responsibilities
- Marriage, family and different relationship structures
- Religious and ethical perspectives – different beliefs and viewpoints on sex, relationships, marriage and family life
- British Values – democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs
- Equality, diversity and respectful debate – understanding and engaging positively with different perspectives
- Healthy choices and wellbeing – emotional wellbeing, self-care and accessing support
- Life after college – relationships, independence, workplace expectations and becoming responsible adults
How is our Curriculum 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.
All students are required to attend these sessions as part of their KS5 timetable.
Student Briefings
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.
Values Lessons
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 important concepts that both the College and UK Government recognise to be vital to the development and wellbeing of young people. The role of the KS5 Values teacher is also to act as a first point of contact for students that have questions or concerns relating to their safety and wellbeing.
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.
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.
Active participation in Values is a prerequisite for those students that wish to undertake an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in addition to their mandatory KS5 learning.
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
