Relationships, Health and Sex Education (RHSE)

Our Catholic Vision for RHSE

At St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Relationships, Health and Sex Education is rooted in the belief that every person is uniquely created, loved and called by God. Guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church, RHSE supports the holistic development of each child, nurturing their spiritual, moral, emotional, physical, social and intellectual wellbeing.

Following the guidance of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and the requirements of the Department for Education, RHSE is firmly embedded within our wider PSHE curriculum and reflects the most up-to-date statutory Relationships Education and Health Education requirements, including the curriculum and safeguarding expectations in place from September 2026.

RHSE is centred on Christ's vision of the human person and presents relationships, health and personal development as positive gifts from God. Through this curriculum, children are supported to understand their own dignity and worth, develop healthy relationships and make informed, responsible choices that enable them to flourish.

As a Catholic school, we believe that parents are the first educators of their children. We work closely with families to ensure children receive a consistent message rooted in faith, respect, compassion and human dignity.

 

Curriculum Intent

Why do we teach RHSE?

Our RHSE curriculum aims to help children grow into confident, respectful and responsible individuals who understand their value as children of God and appreciate the value of others.

We seek to develop children's understanding of:

Values and Virtues

Children are encouraged to:

• Respect the dignity of every human person.
• Appreciate the gift of life and God's creation.
• Value their uniqueness and the uniqueness of others.
• Recognise the importance of loving, healthy relationships.
• Understand the significance of marriage and family life.
• Develop responsibility for their actions and choices.
• Demonstrate compassion, forgiveness and respect in their relationships.
• Live out Gospel values in their daily lives.

Personal and Social Skills

Through RHSE, children learn to:

• Build and maintain positive relationships.
• Develop self-esteem, confidence and emotional resilience.
• Manage feelings, emotions and challenges appropriately.
• Communicate effectively and respectfully.
• Resolve conflict positively and constructively.
• Show empathy, kindness and forgiveness.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to peer pressure and online influences.
• Assess risks and make informed decisions to keep themselves safe.
• Respect diversity and celebrate difference within their communities.

Knowledge and Understanding

Children develop an age-appropriate understanding of:

• Catholic teaching regarding relationships, love and family life.
• Physical, emotional and spiritual growth.
• Human reproduction and the wonder of new life.
• Positive mental health and emotional wellbeing.
• Personal safety, including online safety.
• Healthy relationships and personal boundaries.
• Consent in age-appropriate contexts.
• The importance of safeguarding and seeking support when needed.
• Their responsibilities towards themselves and others as children of God.

 

Curriculum Implementation

How is RHSE taught?

At St Patrick's, RHSE is delivered through the Ten:Ten Life to the Full programme, which is approved by the Catholic Church and fully aligned with the statutory Relationships Education and Health Education requirements.

The programme has been reviewed to ensure it reflects the most recent statutory guidance and current safeguarding expectations. It provides pupils with accurate, age-appropriate and faith-filled education that prepares them for life in modern Britain whilst remaining firmly rooted in Catholic teaching.

The curriculum is carefully sequenced from Early Years to Year 6 so that learning builds progressively over time. Children revisit important themes throughout their primary education, allowing them to deepen understanding and apply learning with increasing maturity and confidence.

Key vocabulary is explicitly taught and regularly revisited to support understanding and discussion. Retrieval practice is built into learning sequences to help children retain knowledge and make links between different aspects of the curriculum.

Strong assessment practices allow teachers to identify misconceptions, monitor understanding and adapt teaching where required. Through discussion, reflection and pupil voice, teachers ensure that all children can access the curriculum successfully.

Adaptive teaching strategies ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those with English as an Additional Language, are able to access and achieve within the same ambitious curriculum.

 

Life to the Full Programme Structure

Module One: Created and Loved by God

This module helps children understand their God-given dignity, uniqueness and value.

Children learn about:

• Self-worth and identity.
• Physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Positive self-image.
• Respecting and caring for their bodies.
• Human growth and development.
• Puberty and changing bodies.
• The wonder and gift of human life.
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing.

 

Module Two: Created to Love Others

This module focuses on relationships and helps children understand how to build healthy, respectful and positive relationships with others.

Children learn about:

• Family life and different family relationships.
• Friendships and healthy relationships.
• Communication and conflict resolution.
• Kindness, forgiveness and trust.
• Personal boundaries.
• Respect and consent in age-appropriate contexts.
• Anti-bullying education.
• Online relationships and digital safety.
• Recognising unsafe situations and seeking support.

The NSPCC PANTS resources and additional safeguarding materials support learning within this module.

 

Module Three: Created to Live in Community

This module enables children to understand their responsibilities as members of local, national and global communities.

Children learn about:

• The Trinity and God's call to community.
• Catholic Social Teaching.
• Stewardship and care for creation.
• Rights and responsibilities.
• Service and the Common Good.
• Human dignity and social justice.
• Participation within communities.
• Making a positive contribution to society.

This module encourages children to recognise that they can use their gifts and talents to help others and make a difference in the world.

 

Curriculum Impact

What difference does our RHSE curriculum make?

By the time children leave St Patrick's Catholic Primary School, they will possess the knowledge, understanding, virtues and personal skills needed to navigate modern life safely, confidently and responsibly.

They will:

• Understand that they are uniquely loved and valued by God.
• Demonstrate respect for themselves and others.
• Build healthy, positive and respectful relationships.
• Understand the importance of family, friendship and community.
• Recognise how to keep themselves physically, emotionally and spiritually safe.
• Understand the physical and emotional changes associated with growing up.
• Demonstrate resilience, confidence and emotional maturity.
• Make informed decisions that reflect Catholic values and teachings.
• Understand their rights and responsibilities as members of society.
• Show empathy, compassion and forgiveness.
• Appreciate diversity and respect those with different beliefs, cultures and backgrounds.
• Understand how to stay safe online and offline.
• Be prepared for the next stage of their education and personal development.

Children leave St Patrick's equipped not only with knowledge but also with the virtues, values and character needed to become responsible citizens and active members of their communities.

 

Assessment

Assessment within RHSE focuses on knowledge, understanding, reflection and personal development.

Teachers assess learning through:

• Class discussion and pupil voice.
• Reflection activities.
• Floor books and class journals.
• Written work and pupil responses where appropriate.
• Retrieval activities.
• Vocabulary assessments.
• End-of-unit reflections.
• Before-and-after learning assessments.

These approaches enable teachers to monitor progress, celebrate achievement and ensure that all children develop the knowledge, skills, understanding and values necessary to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Through our RHSE curriculum, children grow in faith, flourish in their relationships and develop the confidence to make positive choices throughout their lives, always recognising their dignity as children of God and their responsibility to care for others and the world around them.

 

You will be able reference the policy via the link below:

RHSE policy

RHSE yearly overview: