Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (RSHE)
Harris Academy Merton is committed to delivering the DfE Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSHE) and Health Education Statutory guidance (2020). A primary concern of all staff is to ensure that every student is safe from risk while in our care; we consider the well-being, emotional and social development of our students as paramount. Effective sex and relationship education is essential for young people to make well informed decisions about their lives.
At Harris Academy Merton, RSHE is delivered through a range of programmes, such as: Tutor Time RSHE sessions; Tutor Time ‘Faith, Lifestyle, Inclusion, Culture, Society’ sessions (FLICS); Assemblies; RSHE drop down sessions; and the curriculum subjects of Science, Religious Studies, Food Technology, Physical Education and Computer Science. The Academy Early Help Team with the support of the DSL also deliver bespoke safeguarding workshops to SEND students.
In the 2021-22 academic year, our RSHE drop down sessions have the same theme as the termly RSHE themes and aim to embed knowledge contextually across year groups and bring the school community together. As such, during these drop-down sessions, students in Years 7 to 13 experience further development of the three termly themes: Healthy Relationships, Health and Well-being and Living in the Wider World. The content of these sessions also considers the current local and national safeguarding context.
Student safeguarding Training
At the start of each academic year, all students attend a safeguarding assembly led by the DSL, that includes guidance on how to stay safe and keep others safe, how to report safeguarding concerns and how to seek support from the Early Help Team.
Student voice
Students are asked which RSHE and Safeguarding topics they would like to know more about so that the curriculum can be adapted to ensure the issues that our students want to know more about are taught.
Student Safeguarding Ambassadors
The Safeguarding Ambassadors help promote the Academy’s approach to peer on peer abuse and anti-bullying ethos and help reinforce the importance of student voice.
Year 7 Transition
Year 7 students receive 2 RSHE sessions per week, and for the first half term, these serve to support with the transition to secondary school and help students become ready, respectful, and resilient members of the Academy community. Sessions will be led by the Year 7 Faculty Team and include specific safeguarding guidance on:
- School rules and safety
- Safe travel to and from school
- Using mobile phones safety
- Screen time
- Social media and group chats
- Anti-bullying.
Assemblies and FLICS
The whole Academy also receives aspects of RSHE via the assembly programme and FLICS programme where themes are coordinated to coincide with the termly RSHE themes of relationships, health and well-being and the wider world.
Drop-Down Sessions
Year 7 to 13 RSHE drop- down sessions are specifically chosen by students at the end of the previous academic year.
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSHE. Should you wish to withdraw your child from any/all of our RSHE, we would request that you arrange a conversation with a member of the Academy Leadership Team to discuss and ensure that your wishes are fully understood by the Academy by emailing info@harrismerton.org.uk.
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