CPSE at the Academy
 

A Comprehensive Curriculum Including Citizenship, Relationships, Sex and Health Education
 

At the Academy, Citizenship, Personal, Social and Economic Education (CPSE) plays a pivotal role in the formation of confident, responsible, compassionate and informed young people. Rooted in both statutory guidance and the Academy’s ethos, CPSE provides students with the knowledge, skills and values they need to lead healthy lives, form respectful relationships and contribute meaningfully to society. The curriculum is fully compliant with the latest statutory requirements for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), and evolves continually to reflect the changing world in which our students live.
 

CPSE is delivered primarily through dedicated lessons within the Academy timetable. Additionally, certain topics are supported by occasional sessions outside of CPSE, such as menstruation education in Year 7. This approach allows all content to be taught in age-appropriate and focused ways while ensuring coverage remains inclusive, balanced and comprehensive.
 

Throughout their time at the Academy, students explore themes including identity, citizenship, equality, mental and physical health, media literacy, financial responsibility, career planning and digital resilience. Interpersonal relationships are taught with care and rigour, encompassing friendship, romantic and familial relationships, as well as respect, consent and emotional wellbeing. Students are also prepared for their adult lives through topics ranging from employment law to addiction awareness, personal safety and the operation of government and the law in the United Kingdom.
 

Year 7: In Year 7, the curriculum begins with topics designed to ease students into secondary education, including managing change, self-concept, emotional wellbeing and healthy living. They explore relationships from a foundation of empathy, equality and respect, and begin to understand how to stay safe online and in public settings. Menstruation, reproduction and puberty are addressed in an age-appropriate way. Later in the year, students explore their digital identities and develop their study skills, helping them to become reflective and responsible learners.

Year 8: By Year 8, students engage more deeply with community, citizenship and political literacy. They explore the UK political system, Parliament, voting rights and the nature of democracy, as well as the legal structures that support civil society. Their understanding of respectful relationships is revisited and expanded through discussion of autonomy, family dynamics and peer pressure. They begin to explore career pathways and financial decisions, equipping them with tools for future planning and responsible money management.
 

Year 9: In Year 9, students examine discrimination and equality in detail, looking at race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation and social class. Mental health topics include coping strategies for stress, self-esteem and depression, while physical health education covers diet, addiction and contraception. Careers education becomes more nuanced, incorporating workplace rights, skills and global citizenship. Topics such as radicalisation and extremism are approached sensitively, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding and critical thinking.
 

Year 10: Year 10 marks a transition toward independence and adult responsibility. Students delve into sexual health, consent, contraception and the law, with inclusive teaching that reflects the diversity of romantic and sexual relationships. They explore the emotional and legal complexities of marriage, commitment and relationship breakdown, including domestic abuse and coercive control. Their economic education continues with exploration of employment rights, contractual models and workplace discrimination. They also develop strategies for maintaining mental wellbeing in response to life changes and screen time usage.
 

Year 11: In Year 11, the curriculum culminates in a focus on preparing for life beyond school. Students receive structured guidance on applications to further education, writing personal statements and CVs, and navigating post-16 options. They continue to build knowledge of financial planning, budgeting and consumer rights, and explore adult health topics such as organ and stem cell donation, fertility, miscarriage and pregnancy choices. The RSHE component addresses sexual assault and harassment, lifestyle impact on developing foetuses, and parenting. Legal literacy is advanced through topics such as the operation of the justice system, human rights and civic engagement.
 

Sixth Form: Higher Education Guidance (HEG) In Sixth Form, students continue their personal development through the Higher Education Guidance (HEG) programme. This bespoke curriculum builds on the foundations of CPSE and includes statutory RSHE content, health education and life skills tailored to the needs of young adults preparing for life beyond school.
 

Year 12: In Year 12 students begin by exploring life after Sixth Form, including university pathways, apprenticeships, gap years and study abroad. They learn how to manage their time, prepare for exams and build academic resilience through metacognition and retrieval practice. Health and wellbeing are addressed through sessions on mental health, emotional wellbeing, sexual health, substance misuse and personal safety. Students also develop financial literacy, covering budgeting, taxation, borrowing, saving and online safety. Careers education includes CV writing, interview preparation and understanding employment rights.
 

Year 13: In Year 13, the focus shifts to successfully making the next step. Students refine their personal statements, confirm university choices and complete student finance applications. RSHE topics include respectful relationships, consent, contraception, unintended pregnancy, and recognising abuse and discrimination. As students approach the end of Sixth Form, they receive guidance on revision planning, study leave, results day and securing university places. Final sessions prepare them for university life, including packing, navigating ‘freshers’ week’, managing peer pressure and exploring postgraduate options.

 

Statutory Compliance and Safeguarding
 

The CPSE curriculum at the Academy is inclusive, evidence-informed and student-focused. Every topic is underpinned by safeguarding best practice, with clear pathways for students to seek help and support when needed. Relationships education is woven with respect and dignity for all, and health education is designed to ensure students are empowered with accurate, reliable and practical information to make informed decisions throughout their lives. Through CPSE, students develop the understanding, awareness and critical thinking needed to thrive as individuals and as active participants in a diverse and ever-changing society.