Social Wellbeing

The Cherwell School Social Wellbeing Curriculum

The Social Wellbeing Curriculum sits alongside our Culture and Behaviour Curriculum. Both address our KORE values (Kindness, Opportunity, Responsibility and Excellence) and Fundamental British Values. 

Statement of Intent

Social Wellbeing (SW) is a planned programme of learning through which young people acquire the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to manage their lives, and support those around them, now and in the future.  SW develops the qualities and attributes students need to thrive as individuals, friends, family members, and members of society and our curriculum is a key part of how we teach personal development. As a key component of our Personal Development curriculum, SW provides a vital vehicle through which we actively promote Fundamental British Values—democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs.

The subject aims to contribute towards preparing young people to manage many of the most critical opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they will face growing up in such rapidly changing and challenging times. SW helps students to connect and apply the knowledge and understanding they learn in this and other subjects to practical, real-life situations while helping them to feel safe and secure enough to fulfil their academic and personal potential. Evidence shows SW’s impact in a number of areas, including emotional wellbeing, physical health, academic attainment, and preparation for work. Furthermore, SW helps students to develop the character, resilience and skills they need to succeed. It can also reduce barriers to learning, and create opportunities for success and esteem-building for the most vulnerable students.

 Aims for Social Wellbeing at The Cherwell School

1. Our curriculum and individual lessons are well designed, high quality and knowledge rich (aligned with the CAT policy). Lessons are organised and delivered with enthusiasm, energy and clarity.

2. Clear guidance is provided to help staff develop expertise by producing standardised resources which are rooted in up-to-date research, alongside models, definitions, and scripted explanations. 

3. Students receive a broad, balanced and diverse curriculum which is well sequenced in accordance with and supports the personal development programme throughout the school. 

4. The curriculum is consistently refined, and updated in line with contemporary developments. There will always be flexibility within our curriculum to respond to topical issues (within both school and the wider world). 

5. We will adapt and change resources to ensure they meet the aims of the subject and the needs of the students. 

6. Supporting and strengthening the school ethos and whole school priority of developing personal growth. 

 Essential Guidance 

Social Wellbeing at Cherwell is in line with the RSE (2020) Guidance where relevant and organised according to the themes suggested by the PSHE Association*.

• CORE THEME 1: Health And Wellbeing

• CORE THEME 2: Relationships

• CORE THEME 3: Living In The Wider World

At Cherwell we use the following definitions of sex, relationships, and health education to guide our curriculum planning: SRE and PSHE Definitions and content  

Teachers will be mindful that there may be students in the class who have direct or indirect experience of the issues covered in Social Wellbeing. Nonetheless it is crucial that all students have access to information on how to stay safe and seek help. Therefore teachers may wish to speak with particularly vulnerable students beforehand and share the lesson intentions with them so they can ask any questions. In order to provide a wider safety-net it may be appropriate to do this in conjunction with the relevant pastoral teams in school. 

Our lessons are designed to use non-emotive language, we strive to be factual rather than dramatic. We know students learn best and most safely when presented with facts and given the opportunity to discuss and explore them within safe boundaries. Students deserve to be provided with clear, accurate and consistent explanations. Often there will be key words provided, these should be printed out for students. Encourage students to use and refer to them throughout the lesson. Key words and concepts are important for improving a student’s ability to communicate effectively about the issues that affect them and other people around them. 

We also emphasise the importance of being informed to support those around us. This, along with scenarios to practise problem solving, is a way of equipping students with knowledge and skills whilst allowing them emotional distance. 

Disclosures: Teachers are aware that students may make disclosures to them or their peers at any point during or after the lessons. Should a child make a disclosure within the lesson either directly or indirectly teachers will follow Cherwell’s safeguarding procedure and report this to the relevant staff as directed in our safeguarding policy. Teachers are trained to be vigilant, take notice and report any concern, however small, as it could be part of a bigger picture.

Examples of teacher or student material can be found below which we hope will help demonstrate to parents the content and tone of these sessions. Students will return to the most important theme a number of times across the time at school and we adjust sessions accordingly to make them age appropriate. As the sessions deal with current issues we also seek to adjust in light of events and changes within society, the school and the wider community. 

Year 7:  Rights, Responsibilities and Opportunities - Introducing the Equality Act

Year 8: My Identity - Conduct in the World  

Year 9: Healthy Relationships (Trust)  

Year 10: Conflict Management   

Year 11:  Media and Identity  

Year 12: Money Matters - Understanding Your Pay 

Year 13: Accessing Healthcare  

Curriculum time for Social Wellbeing

Social Wellbeing Curriculum Plans

Below are the outline plans for Social Wellbeing for each year group. Please be mindful that we sometimes need to adapt the SW curriculum to respond to events or changes in the community so these curriculum maps are subject to change. 

Year 7 Social Wellbeing

Year 8 Social Wellbeing

Year 9, 10, and 11 Social Wellbeing SoW

During year 9 and 10 all students study GCSE Citizenship and a variety of themes from the PSHE curriculum are delivered through these lessons. We also continue to support students’ personal development by teaching a social wellbeing curriculum via a series of drop down days. These drop down days are delivered by teachers within the RS/PSCHE faculty and trained members of the extended social wellbeing team. These are bespoke sessions planned by members of the faculty drawing on the best practice nationally, designed to be age appropriate and meet the needs of our school context. 

Year 12 Social Wellbeing SoW

Year 13 Social Wellbeing SoW