Aims
Provision for Personal, Social and Vocational Education at The Swinton High School aims to give students the knowledge, skills and understanding they will need to make informed choices which lead to healthy and successful lives. The curriculum encourages students to develop emotional literacy and enterprise while preparing them for involvement in family, social, economic and civic life. It provides a moral framework – acceptable to parents, teachers and students – within which initiative, responsibility and positive relationships can develop.
Through PSVE we aim to promote children’s understanding of themselves on a physical, emotional and sexual level. We hope to encourage them to discuss their own concerns within various topics. We consider that it is important to establish a secure, sensitive and positive environment in which to explore these issues and therefore all staff delivering Personal, Social and Vocational Education are skilled in establishing the right atmosphere in which students feel comfortable to learn about and discuss sensitive topics.
What will I study?
The Personal, Social and Vocation course covers:
- Drugs education
- Sex education
- Healthy living
- Careers education
- Citizenship
- Enterprise
How will I study?
All students in Years 7 to 11 have a one-hour Personal, Social and Vocational Education lesson each week. Lessons are discussion based with a great deal of input from visiting experts. Lessons also make good use of a wide range of resource materials, such as DVDs, videos and computer software.
How will I be monitored and assessed?
At the end of Year 9 all students are given a national curriculum level, which is assessed by their teacher. Students are always involved in their own assessment and their opinions about their progress and learning contribute to the assessment of their progress.
What will happen in KS4?
In years 10 and 11 students continue to have an hour of personal, social and vocational education weekly. At KS4, there is greater emphasis to ‘prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life’ (Section 351, Education Act 1996).
The AQA GCSE Preparation for Working Life gives students the skills, knowledge and understanding which prepares them for working life, now and in the future as confident individuals and members of society. It is assessed and awarded at level 1 and level 2 of the National Qualification Framework.
In addition, students are supported with careers advice and guidance by staff from The Connexions Service, who supports each students in year 11 on a one to one consultancy basis.