Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education (PSHCE)

News

Year 10 Model United Nations General Assembly May 15th 2008

Year 10 had prepared over several weeks for their mini-MUNGA and came to the afternoon well informed about their countries and the issues. 

  

The United States head of state opened the debate on human slavery with a speech extolling the high ideals of the US constitution and the fact that the US had long moved on from its unfortunate past.  It was not long however before Cuba was on the attack, the United Kingdom came to the aid of its transatlantic friend, and within a short while Zimbabwe was on its feet to denounce its one-time colonial master and its allies. 

  

Many country teams came in a version of national dress, with the French particularly flamboyant (shaky accents and shaky moustaches adding humour to the occasion).

  

While committees convened to frame resolutions on human slavery (all highly idealistic and eventually passed), the security council met to learn the details of an emergency debate on Darfur.  The ensuing debate was passionate, with Sudan making an especially eloquent plea to be left alone to manage its own affairs: in vain, as Sudan and its Chinese friends were overruled by the vast majority of the countries voting.

  

“It was really good fun … it’s made me think I might want to do something like that when I’m older,” was a comment from one of the Indian delegates afterwards. 

Year 9 Health Day

On Wednesday February 27th Year 9 had a day off-timetable for a series of sessions promoting a healthy lifestyle.  In previous years we have run these activities during timetabled Tutor Period sessions, but have responded to girls’ requests for more time and more work in smaller groups.  They thoroughly enjoyed the initial presentation from DRED on harmful substances.

“The atmosphere was great fun but serious.  The powerpoint was good… Bob and Barry seemed really friendly and you felt like you could talk out everything and ask questions.”
“I really enjoyed this session because it was really informative and it was easy to relate the info into your own life.  I learnt loads about different types of drugs and what they do … I also learnt about what a big effect drugs can have on you generally.”

The students responded warmly to discussions in smaller groups for the rest of the day.  DRED led groups in talking about alcohol and caffeine drinks, while CWAC (Children With Aids Charity) facilitated discussions on relationships and self-esteem.  A break from all the talking was the yoga session, with a chance to relax at the end of it.

 “DRED didn’t tell us never to drink, just to drink sensibly.”
“The videos were very powerful … made us all aware of the risks associated with alcohol.”
“The CWAC session was legendary.  I found it really informative because we could ask ANYTHING because a teacher wasn’t there … Amena was fantastic!”
“It was really useful to know what was myth and what was fact…”
“She talked to us as if we were her own age and wasn’t patronising … we got to ask questions, do activities and learnt a lot.”

We’re very pleased that Year 9 enjoyed the day so much, and we’ll consider their suggestions for improving it further.

 

Year 12 and Year 6 team building, Tuesday 5th February 2008

The two year six classes came up from the Junior Department for a session with the Sixth Form.  While one class went with 12S to bond over photographs, glue and picture frames in the Art Department, the other sprang into action with scissors, Selotape and newspaper in the Hall, under the guidance of 12X.  Read about their reactions in the Junior Department section here.

  

 

Pastoral Picnic

On the penultimate day of term, the Year 10 forms each laid on a picnic for the Year 7s.  They chose a different themes – 10O was the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, 10G the colours of the rainbow.  10S went for Wimbledon and 10H for Harry Potter.  The Year 7s, split into their four houses, were expertly led in icebreakers, games and scoffing the spread provided by the Year 10s.  Staff were really impressed by the verve and organising skills of the older girls (especially at this stage in the term!).  They were equally impressed by the gourmandising skills of the Year 7s – who would have thought they could get through so much food?

It’s A Small World  – Year 12 Citizenship Day
Tuesday 12th June 2007

Most of us enjoy at least one holiday a year – maybe even more!  Many of those involve going “abroad”.  So what are the issues raised by tourism’s popularity?  Why do we choose our holidays?  What is the impact of travel on the places visited?  When did it all start?  Does travel really broaden the mind?

On return from study leave Year 12s took part in a Citizenship Day focusing on the theme of tourism. They heard speakers from People and Planet and from Tourism Concern, visited city centre attractions such as Oxford Castle to look at the way Oxford plans for and treats its visitors, and engaged with the global impact of their own holiday choices. 

Students began the tourist experience on an open topped red bus into Oxford laid on courtesy of Citysightseeing Oxford – definitely a highlight of the day!  It culminated with a dramatic tour guide to tourism, from the 18th Century Grand Tour to the modern Gap Year experience, put on by the students themselves.

Citizenship isn’t just something to be seen in the abstract – it’s a way of engaging with the world.  The day was a fun and hands on way of thinking about our behaviour as tourists and the impact of tourism globally – an industry which employs 11% of the planet’s workers.

Presentations on Health and Personal Safety

Years 8, 9 and 10 had a very useful presentation from the CEOP Centre on child exploitation and on-line protection; you can find out more by looking at their website.  Both Year 9 and Year 10 have heard presentations on alcohol from DRED UK, an outside group with specialist expertise in this area.  Y12 and 13 heard Emma Cole from Positive Voice deliver her hard hitting message about relationships and taking care of your sexual health; Year 13 had a visit from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust to prepare them for personal safety in the wider world, especially on Gap year travel.

Justice and the Law

Year 10 ran the Magistrate’s Court Mock Trial, with the expert help of real life magistrate Andrée Blakemore, while Year 11 completed their Criminal Justice module with a Crown Court Mock Trial, assisted by Mrs Louise Gullifer. They also had a ‘Body Matters’ activities session, which included a Pilates session and a skincare workshop with Lush beauty products as well as a Rock’n’Roll option (vital to complete the sex’n’drugs aspect of PSHCE!).

Our thanks go to parents and others who have given their time to enhancing the PSHCE programme this year, and those who have already offered to come in next year. We really do value their expertise and are delighted to welcome those who are prepared to talk to a class or a year group.

Oxfordshire Model United Nations General Assembly 2007

On 12th March 2007 16 Year 12 students headed for Kidlington’s Exeter Hall to debate refugees, water, women’s health and other global issues with their peers from other Oxfordshire schools. We were representing China, The Democratic Republic of the Congo Israel, Lebanon and Venezuela, and before long our Heads of State were on their feet, speechifying, arguing and proposing resolutions. One student, Natasha Morrison, acted as Deputy President and got to sit on the platform with Malcolm Harper, the venerable Acting President.

        

Our China team were very ready to assure the rest of the room that they really ought to be flocking to the China table in order to win friends and influence people; the DRC spoke of that country’s continuing problems, despite massive UN involvement; Lebanon of course had much to say about the aftermath of the recent war there. Israel probably took more of a verbal battering than any other team in the room, and the three delegates stood up for their government’s position vigorously. Meanwhile the Venezuelans were happy to report that their country has the most charismatic President in the world so no wonder people wanted to go there!

    

It was a really exciting and enjoyable day (“MUNGA – it was GREAT!!!” said one of the delegates) and the students were really well prepared with knowledge of their country and of relevant global issues.

Junior 8 Global Citizenship competition

Four teams of Y10 students from Oxford High School took part in this year's J8 global citizenship programme. The programme mirrors the topics discussed by the G8 leaders at their annual summit. Working with students from Magdalen College School, all four teams put together communiques to enter into the J8 competition.  We are very pleased that two of those teams (Campaign for Change, and Fabulinus) were shortlisted (click http://www.j8summit.com/uk/pages/4/359  for a full list of shortlisted entrants and to look at the J8 website). All the students worked really hard, in their own time, to master really challenging topics, ranging from Intellectual Property Rights to Economic Development in Africa. Although it wasn’t our team that finally went forward to the J8 summit in Germany, taking part was really worthwhile and great fun too!  We are also thrilled that Campaign For Change have been highly commended in the British Computer Society (Oxfordshire) Schools Web Competition for their powerpoint based entry which they converted to a website – click here to see their ideas.

On 26th February Year 7 enjoyed Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?, a hard-hitting, fast-moving and very funny play provided by Oxfordshire County Council’s road safety education programme, with a follow-up workshop.

On the same day, Year 9 was gripped by their drugs education talk from Evolutions. It had a terrific impact – we hope the message sticks.

European Youth Parliament

On 1st February 2007 our team of eight Year 12 students headed for St Hugh’s College in some trepidation to debate issues such as Air Travel, Energy Security and Human Rights with other keen minds from schools from as far away as Gloucestershire. Would we have prepared enough? How eloquent would the other teams be? Would we dare to open our mouths? We need not have worried – we got thrown in at the deep end as our motion was moved to the beginning, so the worst was got over with quickly. It was a really interesting day, and we even enjoyed the French debate at the end.

What is PSHCE?

PSHCE is not just a set of initials – although as the latest government initiative hits the postboxes it may sometimes feel like that! Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education is about preparing pupils for life and enabling them to develop into well-informed, healthy adults and useful members of their community. A tall order! But we hope that with the support of their homes, our pupils are already at least half way to making informed independent decisions about the issues affecting them at school and in society.

From Year 7 to Year 13 they are given guidance and provided with resources in six main areas:

• Values
• Health (including drugs, sex and relationships education)
• Study Skills
• Careers
• Citizenship
• Charity

Who teaches PSHCE and Citizenship?

First and foremost, of course, parents! Every child comes to us from a family and each of our students’ individual background and needs is very much in our minds when we devise the PSHCE courses.

At school, PSHCE is inevitably closely linked with the Pastoral programme, and nearly every member of staff is responsible for some part of PSHCE.

• Form tutors take most PSHCE sessions with their forms
• The Head of PSHCE & Citizenship, Ms Mari Girling, coordinates the programme across the senior department and liaises with the junior department
• The Head of Sixth Form, Miss Rachael Pallas-Brown advises on and monitors the PSHCE programme in the sixth form
• Mrs Sarah Jordan, Head of Upper School, Mrs Rebecca Ekins, Head of Years Eight and Nine, and Miss Sue Berry, Head of Year Seven, all participate actively in the running and content of PSHCE sessions in their sections
• The Head of Student Health, Mrs Carol Collinge, is an invaluable part of the team. She takes lessons throughout the school on physical health and wellbeing
• The School Doctor, Dr Godlee, is always available for advice and comes into school for specific sessions
• The Head of Careers, Mrs Angela Finch, liaises closely with the PSHCE programme in providing Careers Education throughout the Senior Department
• Miss Anne Stewart coordinates charity work throughout the school
• The school caterers, Avenance, are an invaluable element of the nutrition element of PSHCE
• Invited speakers deliver specialist sessions, for example Evolutions lead Year 9 and Year 11 sessions on drugs, and the Driving Standards Association talk to Year 12 about road safety
• Outside groups provide stimulating and exciting enrichment sessions; for example, we are included in Oxfordshire County Council’s theatre in education programme. Year 7 are able to enjoy “Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?” at the same time getting the message about individual responsibility

What resources are there?

There is a well-stocked section of the main library. The School Nurse and the Head of PSHCE both have a library of resources for staff to consult and where appropriate for girls to use. Outside agencies provide up to date literature. Newspapers, magazines, television and radio are constant sources of fresh information. There is a good selection of suitable videos. We avoid worksheets, instead focusing on information, discussion, drama and project work.

What timetable allocation is there?

There is one dedicated 40 minute session per week. There are occasional off-timetable activities for different year groups, such as J8 in Year 10 and MUNGA in the Sixth Form. Citizenship in particular is addressed in assemblies, in the course of subject teaching and in the general life of the school: school council, form assistants, Amnesty club – the list could be very long indeed. Every form adopts a Charity and we join in Giving Week in the Summer.