Citizenship & RSHE

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At Inspiration Trust, Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is delivered through our wider Citizenship curriculum. Our curriculum helps pupils develop the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to build positive relationships, stay healthy, keep safe and become active, informed and responsible citizens. It is designed to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain and beyond. 

Our Curriculum Model

Our curriculum is built around a three-layer model:

  • Substantive Knowledge – the important knowledge pupils learn about relationships, health, wellbeing, society, rights and responsibilities.
  • Conceptual Understanding – the key ideas and concepts that help pupils make sense of the world, such as rights, identity, power, justice and participation.

  • Disciplinary Thinking – the skills pupils develop to think critically, evaluate evidence, analyse different viewpoints and apply their learning to real-life situations. 

Learning is carefully sequenced so that pupils revisit and deepen their understanding of important themes as they progress through school.

Our Approach

Our curriculum is age-appropriate, inclusive and responsive to the needs of our pupils. Lessons are delivered in a safe and respectful environment where pupils can explore ideas and develop their understanding. Teaching is guided by statutory Department for Education guidance and supports both personal development and safeguarding.

Parent and Carer Information

We believe that parents and carers are children's first and most important educators. We are committed to working in partnership with families and welcome any questions about our curriculum. Parents and carers may request to view curriculum materials, schemes of learning and resources used within lessons.

Citizenship RSHE Curriculum Overview

Citizenship Year 7

Citizenship Year 8

Citizenship Year 9

Right to Withdraw

Parents and carers do not have the right to withdraw their child from:

  • Relationships Education
  • Health Education
  • National Curriculum Science

Parents and carers may request to withdraw their child from the sex education elements of RSHE that fall outside the National Curriculum for Science. Sex education refers to learning about sexual intercourse, conception and birth. We strongly encourage pupils to participate in the full curriculum as it supports safeguarding, wellbeing, healthy relationships and personal safety. 

Parents and carers who wish to request withdrawal from sex education should contact the school in the first instance. Following a discussion with the school and an opportunity to review curriculum materials, a formal withdrawal request may be submitted using the school's withdrawal request form (Appendix 3 of the RSHE policy).

We strongly encourage pupils to participate in the full curriculum, as it supports safeguarding, wellbeing, healthy relationships and personal safety. Further information can be found in our RSHE Policy or by contacting the school directly

KES RSHE Letter Home

At KES Academy, we are committed to supporting every child to be safe, healthy, happy and prepared for life beyond school. As part of this commitment, we deliver Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum through a high-quality citizenship curriculum that helps pupils develop the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to navigate the opportunities and challenges of growing up.

This learning plays an important role in promoting pupil wellbeing, supporting positive mental health, developing healthy relationships, and helping children stay safe both offline and online. It is also a key part of our safeguarding responsibilities: helping pupils recognise risks; understand personal boundaries; know how to seek; help; and make informed decisions.

Our programme is designed in line with Department for Education guidance and is taught in a way that is age-appropriate, developmental and responsive to pupils' needs.

What pupils will learn

Our Citizenship and RSHE curriculum is designed to help pupils develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to stay safe, build positive relationships, understand the world around them and prepare for adult life. Learning revisits key themes each year, enabling pupils to deepen and extend their understanding as they mature.

Year 7

During Year 7, pupils focus on settling into secondary school and developing the foundations for safe, healthy and successful lives.

Year 8

During Year 8, pupils deepen their understanding of identity, relationships, safeguarding and social responsibility.

Year 9

During Year 9, pupils explore more complex issues relating to relationships, safety, health, rights and future adulthood.

Our approach

All content is taught in an age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate manner. Lessons are carefully planned to build upon prior learning and are delivered by trained staff who create a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for discussion and learning. The curriculum reflects statutory Relationships Education, Health Education and Citizenship requirements while supporting our wider safeguarding responsibilities.

Our curriculum is carefully planned so that learning builds progressively over time. Topics are revisited as pupils mature, enabling them to develop deeper understanding and greater confidence in applying what they learn.

How we teach sensitive topics

We recognise that some aspects of RSHE may be sensitive for pupils and families. These topics are taught carefully, professionally and in a supportive environment by trained staff. Lessons are designed to be factual, balanced and age-appropriate, with consideration given to the maturity and needs of pupils.

Our approach encourages respectful discussion while recognising that families may hold a range of views, beliefs and experiences. Throughout the curriculum, we promote the trust's values of respect, inclusion and kindness and seek to ensure that all pupils feel safe and valued.

Working in partnership with parents and carers

We believe that parents and carers are their children's first and most important educators. We therefore value a strong partnership between home and school. Parents and carers can view curriculum maps and schemes of learning, as well as topic overviews. Further information is available on the school website. Please make contact if you would like further information, including to view materials, or to arrange a meeting.

Safeguarding and pupil wellbeing

A key purpose of RSHE is to support safeguarding. Learning helps pupils understand healthy relationships, recognise inappropriate or harmful behaviour, stay safe online, seek support when needed, and understand where to access trusted sources of help and advice.

By working together, we can ensure that children receive consistent messages that help them develop into confident, respectful and responsible young people.

Thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions about our RSHE curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact us