PSHE
We believe that promoting the health and well-being of our students is an important part of their overall education at Meridian High School. We do this through our Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) provision, which looks at many topics including all kinds of relationships, physical and emotional health, and living in the wider world.
The aim of the PSHE course is to help our pupils make safe and informed decisions during their school years and beyond. For example, is important for them to know how diet and exercise choices impact on our lifestyle and general well-being as well as making informed financial and personal decisions.
PSHE is taught as a discrete lesson every week. The PSHE programme takes a thematic approach to delivery and is informed by best practice guidance from the PSHE association.The cycical curriculum is designed so that students will build on the knowledge, skills and understanding of the units they have explored in earlier years. For both the key stage 3 and 4 programme of study, materials that are presented are at the appropriate stages of our students’ development.
At Meridian High School, we believe that Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is a vital part of preparing our young people for life beyond the classroom. From September 2025, the updated national guidance makes RSE a compulsory element of education for all secondary pupils, and we are committed to delivering it in a way that is age-appropriate, inclusive, and empowering.
RSE at MHS is not just about learning the facts—it’s about giving students the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build health and respectful relationships of all kinds. Lessons cover:
- Understanding different types of relationships and family structures.
- Developing respect, empathy, and safe boundaries.
- Learning about physical development, consent, and reproductive health.
- Exploring wellbeing, personal safety, and the challenges of modern life.
Young people today face complex pressures and dilemmas as they grow. RSE helps them:
- Build resilience and self-esteem.
- Make informed choices about their health, relationships, and future.
- Recognise risks and know how and when to seek help.
- Grow in self-confidence, belief, and independence.
Our Approach
- Timely and age-appropriate: Lessons are taught at the right stage of maturity, using clear and accurate language.
- Interactive and reflective: Students are encouraged to ask questions, share views, and reflect on attitudes in a safe environment.
- Linked to life skills: RSE connects directly with wider PSHE themes such as keeping safe, healthy living, and economic wellbeing.
At MHS, we want our students to leave school with the confidence to embrace the challenges of adult life, equipped with the knowledge to make good decisions, and the values to form positive, nurturing relationships.
The journey of our PSHE curriculum at Meridian High School began in 2020, with strong input from parents who helped shape our original RSE policy. Since then, our curriculum has continued to evolve, ensuring it meets the changing needs of our students, school, and wider community.
Our PSHE lead, Personal Development Team and Leadership Team review the programme annually to address current contextual issues, reflect statutory updates, and respond to emerging challenges that young people face. This ongoing review process ensures that our PSHE curriculum is relevant, informative and empowering, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to make informed decisions and navigate life confidently.
By continually adapting our approach, we ensure that PSHE at Meridian High School is not static- it is a living curriculum that grows with our students and reflects the dynamic world around them.
Why does PSHE as a subject matter?
The learning we undertake across the five years seeks to further safeguard students, supporting their spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development and to help prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life. We aim to make our materials as context-specific to the lives of our young people as possible and be responsive to their needs.
What does PSHE help young people to achieve?
We tailor the programme to further instil our core behaviour values of resilience, ambition and respect as students learn about themselves and others. We believe that the development of these core values develops the emotional intelligence of our students to utilise in the community and wider world around them.
Links
https://www.votesforschools.com/
https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tqGygtL4Z3aA3dMtUMV15kxxlcH4HoCG/view?usp=drive_link
