At St Mary’s C of E Primary School, we teach Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education with a whole-school approach. We believe that PSHE education gives our children the knowledge, skills, and attributes that they need to keep themselves healthy and safe and to prepare them for life and work in modern Britain. It also equips our children with the skills that they need to thrive as individuals, family members and members of society. We include the statutory Relationships and Health Education within our spiral, whole-school PSHE Programme which covers ‘Families and people who care for me’’ ‘Caring friendships’, ‘Respectful relationships’, ‘Online relationships’, and ‘Being safe’.

Sex Education

The DfE Guidance 2021 states that Relationships and Health Education are compulsory in all primary schools. Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools and schools are to determine the content of sex education in their setting. At St. Mary’s, we believe children should understand the facts about human reproduction before they leave primary school. Our PSHE and Science curriculum ensure this is covered in an age appropriate and sensitive manner.

The school’s programme of health education helps prepare children for their personal, social and family responsibilities, of which sex education is an important part. During the last years in school, girls and boys undergo a series of lessons, the content of which parents will be informed about and are welcome to discuss with the Class or Head Teacher. Arrangements can be made for those children whose parents wish to withdraw them from these classes. Please refer to our PSHE Policy for further details.