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RHE

Rationale

Since September 2020, Relationships Education and Health Education (RSHE) has been statutory in all primary schools in England. This means schools must teach:

Relationships Education (compulsory)

  • Families and people who care for me
  • Caring friendships
  • Respectful relationships
  • Online relationships
  • Being safe

Health Education (compulsory)

  • Physical health and fitness
  • Healthy eating
  • Mental wellbeing
  • Internet safety
  • Drugs, alcohol and tobacco
  • Health prevention
  • Basic first aid
  • Changing adolescent body

These topics were originally part of PSHE, but they are now legally required under the umbrella of RSHE – which we refer to at St. Anthony’s as RHE. We still teach other elements of the PSHE curriculum through the lens of ‘Appreciation of the World’ sessions where we explore:

  • Living in the wider world
  • Economic education
  • Citizenship elements
  • Additional wellbeing, personal development, or safety topics
  • Local or school-specific curriculum themes (e.g., Catholic Social Teaching at St. Anthony’s)

At St. Anthony’s, Relationships and Health Education (RHE) is a vital part of our mission to educate the whole child—spiritually, morally, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. Rooted in our identity as a Roman Catholic school, RHE enables pupils to understand who they are as children of God, how they are called to live in relationship with others, and how they can flourish in body, mind, and spirit.

Our RHE curriculum supports pupils in developing healthy relationships, emotional resilience, and a strong sense of self-worth. It teaches them to respect the dignity of every person, to keep themselves and others safe, and to make informed and thoughtful choices. Through our Catholic ethos, pupils learn that they are loved, unique, and created with purpose.

RHE contributes to our wider mission by explicitly connecting to Catholic Social Teaching, encouraging pupils to care for the vulnerable, challenge injustice, celebrate diversity, and act as responsible stewards of creation. Through our supplementary Appreciation of the World sessions, pupils gain cultural capital by exploring different cultures, global issues, national focus weeks, and the call to be active citizens inspired by Gospel values.

We also draw inspiration from Building the Kingdom, encouraging pupils to recognise God’s presence in the world, to seek truth, beauty, and goodness, and to understand their role in shaping society with hope and love.

Intent

The intent of our RHE curriculum is to equip all pupils with the knowledge, skills, and virtues they need to lead fulfilling, healthy, and loving lives. Through Ten:Ten’s Life to the Full Plus curriculum, supplemented by our own bespoke provision, we aim for pupils to:

  • Understand what healthy relationships look like—built on respect, kindness, forgiveness, honesty, and responsibility.
  • Develop emotional literacy, self-regulation, resilience, and empathy.
  • Gain age-appropriate knowledge of physical and mental health, personal safety, personal boundaries, and online behaviours.
  • Recognise their personal dignity, giftedness, and worth as created by God.
  • Appreciate diversity within God’s world and develop an understanding of local, national, and global issues.
  • Understand their responsibilities to themselves, others, the wider world, and creation.

Our curriculum is a spiral curriculum, sequenced from EYFS to Year 6 so that pupils revisit core themes—relationships, health, safety, identity, and community—with increasing depth and maturity. We aim to nurture curiosity, courage, compassion, and a lifelong commitment to living out Gospel values in a modern society.

Implementation

RHE is taught through the diocesan-approved programme Life to the Full Plus, which provides a structured, age-appropriate progression of learning through story, scripture, film, discussion, and prayer. This is enhanced by:

  • Appreciation of the World Sessions that broaden pupils’ cultural capital through exploration of CST principles, global citizenship, art, music, literature, and current issues.
  • Participation in national focus weeks, such as Parliament Week, Anti-Bullying Week, Mental Health Week, Internet Safety Day, and environmental events such as COP conferences.
  • Building the Kingdom themes from EducareM, fostering critical thinking, philosophical enquiry, and deep reflection on what it means to create a fairer, more hopeful world.

Lessons are delivered using a variety of methods:
• Direct teaching and guided discussion
• Storytelling and scripture reflection
• Role-play, drama, and scenario-based learning
• Creative work, including art and writing
• Circle time and class dialogue
• Videos and interactive digital resources
• Mindfulness and prayer practices

Cross-curricular links are intentionally made with RE, PSHE, science, computing, PE, and our wider Catholic life. Pupils learn through real-life examples, moral dilemmas, and opportunities to apply learning in their everyday interactions.

Impact

Pupils at St. Anthony’s leave primary school with a strong, secure foundation for understanding themselves and others. By the end of each key stage, pupils:

  • Can recognise healthy and unhealthy relationships.
  • Communicate their feelings clearly and respectfully.
  • Understand how to keep themselves physically and emotionally safe.
  • Show empathy, kindness, and respect in their choices and behaviour.
  • Can reflect on their God-given dignity and value.
  • Understand their responsibilities as citizens and stewards of creation.
  • Demonstrate attitudes aligned with CST and the Catholic Schools’ Pupil Profile.
  • Are able to sustain meaningful conversations with others about the world around them.

Our RHE curriculum helps pupils grow into confident, thoughtful, and compassionate young people prepared for the challenges of modern life, able to build positive relationships and contribute to the common good.

Assessment

RHE is assessed through a combination of ongoing teacher assessment and opportunities for pupil reflection:

  • Prior learning is revisited through questioning, recap tasks, and circle time discussions.
  • Pupils demonstrate understanding through class dialogue, written responses, role-play, posters, projects, and creative expressions.
  • Teachers use observation, notes, and pupil voice to monitor wellbeing, maturity, and comprehension.
  • Reflections and journaling allow pupils to show personal engagement and growth.
  • Assessment is formative, ensuring misconceptions are addressed sensitively and promptly.
  • Summative assessment takes place at key points in the year, supported by Life to the Full Plus assessment guidance and school-designed activities.

Progress is celebrated through displays, assemblies, pupil voice, and recognition of lived values in daily school life.

SEND Support Statement

RHE is inclusive and accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND. High-quality, responsive teaching ensures that every child can participate meaningfully in discussions, activities, and reflections. Adaptations may include:

  • Visual supports, social stories, sequencing cards, and vocabulary prompts.
  • Simplified scenarios or scripts for role-play.
  • Additional adult support to scaffold responses or facilitate emotional expression.
  • Alternative methods for recording, including drawing, symbols, or verbal responses.
  • Short, structured tasks with clear, manageable steps.
  • Pre-teaching of sensitive vocabulary or concepts.
  • Careful consideration of emotional triggers, taught with sensitivity and care.

We maintain high expectations for all pupils while ensuring that teaching supports their individual needs, promoting confidence, dignity, and understanding.

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