PSME (Personal Social & Moral Education) & Citizenship
Citizenships is taught across the whole school and includes:
- Personal Development
- Careers Education
- Citizenship
- Health Education
- Moral and Spiritual Education
This subject forms part of the National Curriculum for students and encourages an interest in current events, participation and development of skills.
Key Stage 3, 4 and 5
All students Years 7 - 11 have PSME/Citizenship through focus lessons and/or conference days. Visiting speakers, theatre groups, videos and discussions regarding current affairs help to ensure that the subject is interesting and relevant. We have substantial support from local and national organisations, for instance, Banbury Rotary Club, Banbury Youth Homelessness Project (BYHP), Samaritans, Relate, Teenage Cancer Trust, Royal Bank of Scotland, to name a few.
The Sixth Form have a programme arranged for them which involves the development of key skills throughout the topics listed above. Their PSME education is addressed through Tutorials and Enrichment Week. Events include “Peers into Schools”, and specific talks, for instance, from Holocaust survivors. These lessons and conferences are supplemented by work undertaken in subjects like RE.
Students in Years 10 and 11 also work towards their Record of Achievement which includes careers information and development of individual skills. The scheme encourages students to be aware of their own skills and personal qualities and to action plan. Employers and educationalists value the information presented. This file can continue to be developed after students leave school. Progression of skills and understanding of Post 16 opportunities and responsibilities are developed throughout Key Stage 4 to enable students to be responsible citizens and able to resolve a range of problems with confidence. Students are actively encouraged to consider those less fortunate than themselves and to participate in community events and fundraising.