PSHE - UTC Warrington

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) accounts for any education that is not a part of the statutory curriculum subjects and is designed to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes that all pupils need in order to keep healthy and safe and to prepare them for life and work in modern Britain.

PSHE education provides a framework though which such key skills, attributes and knowledge can be developed and applied to some of the most pressing issues facing young people today: from mental health to understanding the importance of staying safe online, healthy and safe relationships, making sense of media messages, challenging extreme views and having the skills and attributes to negotiate a potentially volatile labour market. Evidence shows that well-delivered PSHE programmes have an impact on both academic attainment and non-academic outcomes for pupils, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

The core sections of PSHE Education at UTC Warrington are:

Careers Education – helping students plan for their future education and careers.
Drugs and Alcohol Education – teaching students about the side-effects and legalities of drugs and alcohol in the UK.
Financial Education – developing students understanding of money and how to budget now and in the future.
Fundamental British Values – developing students understanding of Democracy, the Rule of Law, Individual Liberty and Mutual Respect and Tolerance
Healthy Lifestyle – teaching students to look after their health, both physically and mentally.
Prevent (Extremism and Radicalisation) – helping students avoid and identify extremism and radicalisation to keep themselves and their community safe.
Relationships and Sex Education – developing understanding of the importance of stable and loving relationships, respect, love and care, for family life.

UTC Warrington’s Relationship and Sex Education curriculum follows government guidance and our Relationship & Sex Education Policy is available here.

Our PSHE lead is Mr Skelland. You can contact him here.

British Values

UTC Warrington is committed to serving its community. It recognises the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. It also understands the vital role it has in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.

It follows equal opportunities guidance which guarantees that there will be no discrimination against any individual or group, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status, or similar. UTCW is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its students.

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key ‘British Values’ are taught in all UK schools. The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy.

UTC Warrington uses strategies within the national curriculum and beyond to secure such outcomes for students. The examples that follow show some of the many ways that UTC Warrington seeks to embed British values.

Democracy

The principle of democracy is consistently being reinforced at UTCW, with open debates and discussion about current topics and affairs. Democracy processes include votes amongst the student leadership team to make important decisions. The principle of democracy is also explored during form time and assemblies.

The rule of law

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced at UTC Warrington. Students are taught the rules and expectations of the school which are highlighted by the home college agreement and student expectations. Students are taught the value and the reasons behind laws that govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken.

Individual liberty

At UTC Warrington, students are actively encouraged to make independent choices, with the knowledge that they are in a safe, secure and supportive environment. Staff here educate and provide boundaries for students to make informed choices, through a safe environment and an empowering education.

Students are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and are advised on how to exercise these safely, for example through e-safety and work with their Personal Academic Tutor.

UTCW has a robust anti-bullying culture and has in place a comprehensive Behaviour Policy.

Mutual Respect

Respect is a strong part of our UTC and is part of the values that students learn. Students also understand that their behaviour has an effect on their own rights and those of others. All members of the school community treat each other with respect and this is reiterated through its teaching and learning environments.

Mutual respect is embraced throughout the curriculum by providing the opportunity for students to express their views in a safe environment with UTCW’s ethos being underlined by the need to ‘strive for success’ and using ‘initiative’ to broaden the horizons of our students.

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

This is achieved though equipping students with the ability to understand their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving the opportunities to experience such diversity within the school community. Students have benefited from exchange visits, including students and staff from other continents and cultures. Additionally, students are actively encouraged to share their faith and beliefs within the school and celebrate festivities throughout the calendar year.

Through our SMSC education we help students to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and self-confidence; distinguish right from wrong and to respect English law; encourage students to accept responsibility for their behaviour, show initiative and contribute positively to society; enable students to acquire a broad general knowledge of, and respect for, English public institutions and services and to appreciate and respect their own and other cultures.

UTC Warrington strives endlessly to ensure that its students leave with the strongest foundation of values upon which to build a successful life and a successful contribution to our Society.