Intent

At The Grange Academy, our PSHE curriculum is designed to provide a high-quality, age-appropriate education that supports pupils’ personal, social, health, and economic development. Using the Jigsaw scheme of work, we aim to nurture confident, resilient, and well-rounded individuals who can thrive in school, in society, and in their future lives.

Our PSHE curriculum contributes to the whole-school ethos, aligning with our vision of Learning for Life by promoting Spiritual, Moral, Social, and Cultural (SMSC) development, safeguarding, and British Values. It supports pupils in developing the knowledge, skills, and attributes they need to:

• Stay safe and healthy: Pupils are empowered to make informed decisions about their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
• Understand and value themselves and others: Pupils build self-awareness, emotional literacy, and empathy, developing positive relationships and celebrating diversity.
• Contribute meaningfully to the world: Pupils gain a sense of responsibility, understanding their roles as active and respectful citizens in a rapidly changing world.

A Whole-School Approach

The Jigsaw curriculum is delivered cohesively across the school, ensuring all pupils benefit from a consistent and progressive approach to PSHE. Each half-term, pupils explore key themes through engaging and structured Puzzle titles:

• Being Me in My World
• Celebrating Difference
• Dreams and Goals
• Healthy Me
• Relationships
• Changing Me

These themes are introduced through assemblies and embedded across the curriculum, fostering a shared understanding of how PSHE supports individual and collective development.

Mindfulness and Wellbeing

A strong emphasis on mindfulness is embedded within Jigsaw lessons, helping pupils to develop emotional awareness, concentration, and focus. This practice nurtures resilience, equipping pupils to manage challenges effectively and maintain a healthy balance in their lives.

At The Grange Academy, we believe PSHE is a cornerstone of education, preparing pupils to live safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives in modern Britain. By the time they leave us, pupils will:

• Understand their value and potential.
• Be equipped to make informed choices.
• Demonstrate the confidence and skills to contribute positively to their communities and the wider world.

 

Implementation

At The Grange Academy, our PSHE curriculum is delivered using the Jigsaw Scheme of Work, a comprehensive, progressive, and fully planned programme. This ensures pupils receive high-quality, age-appropriate education that supports their personal, social, health, and economic development, as well as statutory Relationships and Health Education requirements.

 

Curriculum Structure

The Jigsaw scheme is designed as a spiral curriculum, enabling pupils to revisit key themes and build on their knowledge and skills progressively. The curriculum is organised into six half-termly units (Puzzles), each containing six sequenced lessons (Pieces):

1. Being Me in My World
2. Celebrating Difference (including anti-bullying)
3. Dreams and Goals
4. Healthy Me
5. Relationships
6. Changing Me (including Sex Education)

Each Puzzle begins with a whole-school assembly, introducing a unifying theme, fostering a sense of shared learning across year groups. All pupils study the same Puzzle at the same time, tailored to their developmental level, ensuring consistent learning across the school.

 

Lesson Structure

Each Jigsaw lesson (Piece) follows a clear structure to optimise learning:

1. Connect Us: Fun, inclusive activities to build positive relationships and collaborative learning.
2. Calm Me: Mindfulness activities to enhance focus, emotional awareness, and readiness to learn.
3. Open My Mind: Introduction to the key learning intention, engaging pupils’ attention and curiosity.
4. Tell Me or Show Me: Presentation of new information, concepts, and skills through diverse teaching strategies.
5. Let Me Learn: Opportunities for hands-on learning, application, and manipulation of new concepts.
6. Help Me Reflect: Structured reflection on learning experiences, fostering self-awareness and consolidation.

Closure: Each lesson ends with positive reinforcement, key learning summaries, and praise to ensure a safe and meaningful conclusion.

 

Teaching Strategies and Differentiation

• Lessons are designed to be engaging and inclusive, using a range of activities to cater to different learning styles.
• Teachers have flexibility to adapt lessons, using scaffolding and differentiation to support all learners, including pupils with SEND.
• Opportunities for greater depth challenges are provided to stretch high-achieving pupils and enrich their learning.

 

Assessment and Monitoring

• Formative Assessment: Teachers observe pupil engagement, participation, and responses during lessons.
• Summative Assessment: Pupils are assessed against age-related expectations, using criteria provided in the Jigsaw scheme to identify those working towards, at, or beyond expectations.
• Progress is tracked termly using Arbor, enabling consistent monitoring across year groups.

 

Teacher Support and Training

To ensure the effective delivery of PSHE, staff receive:

• Comprehensive lesson plans and resources within the Jigsaw scheme, including teacher and pupil videos to enhance confidence and subject knowledge.
• Access to CPD opportunities, including training on sensitive topics like Relationships and Sex Education.
• Mentorship and support from Jigsaw to ensure high standards and staff confidence.

 

Timetabling and Whole-School Approach

• PSHE is timetabled weekly as a dedicated lesson to provide focused, high-quality teaching.
• PSHE themes are integrated into school assemblies, wider curriculum activities, and school values, ensuring a holistic approach.

 

Enrichment and Engagement

• Mindfulness Practices: Embedded in every lesson to support mental health, emotional regulation, and resilience.
• Special Events: Activities such as anti-bullying week, diversity celebrations, and well-being days raise the profile of PSHE in the school community.
• Parental Engagement: Parents are informed about PSHE topics and are invited to contribute to their child’s learning journey, particularly during sensitive topics like Relationships and Sex Education.

 

Why This Approach Works

This consistent, well-structured approach ensures that pupils at The Grange Academy receive:

• A safe space to explore sensitive topics.
• Practical strategies for managing their emotions and relationships.
• The skills, knowledge, and values to navigate the complexities of modern life.

Through the Jigsaw scheme, we ensure that PSHE is a meaningful, integral part of every pupil’s education, preparing them for life in a rapidly changing world.

 

Impact

The impact of our PSHE curriculum at The Grange Academy is reflected in the positive outcomes for pupils, both academically and personally. By engaging with the Jigsaw scheme, pupils develop the knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary to thrive as individuals and members of their communities, preparing them for life in modern Britain.

 

Expected Impact on Pupils

Through the structured and progressive delivery of Jigsaw PSHE, pupils will:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding: Pupils confidently apply their learning to real-life situations, showing an awareness of healthy relationships, mental and physical wellbeing, and active citizenship.
• Build emotional literacy: Pupils articulate their emotions, develop empathy, and use strategies to manage their feelings, fostering strong interpersonal skills and positive relationships.
• Develop resilience and confidence: Pupils approach challenges with a growth mindset, demonstrating adaptability and problem-solving skills.
• Become active and responsible citizens: Pupils understand British values and their role within society, contributing positively to their school, local, and global communities.

 

Assessment of Impact

We assess the impact of PSHE through a combination of formative and summative approaches:

• Formative Assessment: Teachers monitor progress during lessons using questioning, observations, and pupils’ self-assessments.
• Summative Assessment: Teachers use Jigsaw’s tracking system to evaluate whether pupils are working towards, at, or beyond age-related expectations for each Puzzle. Exemplifications are provided to support teacher judgements.
• Pupil Voice: Discussions with pupils provide insight into how PSHE is influencing their behaviour, attitudes, and understanding.
• Progress Tracking: Termly assessments are input into Arbor, allowing leaders to track progress and identify areas requiring further support or challenge.

 

Evidence of Impact

The success of our PSHE curriculum is demonstrated through:

• Pupil Outcomes: Pupils show secure knowledge and skills across the PSHE curriculum, demonstrating progression from year to year.
• Behaviour and Attitudes: Pupils display positive attitudes towards themselves and others, contributing to a harmonious and respectful school community.
• Engagement and Participation: Pupils are actively involved in lessons, assemblies, and school-wide initiatives, such as anti-bullying week and well-being days.
• Work Scrutiny and Displays: Pupils’ contributions to PSHE lessons and whole-school outcomes, such as collaborative displays, reflect their understanding and creativity.

 

Wider Impact

The PSHE curriculum at The Grange Academy has a meaningful impact beyond the classroom:

• SMSC Development: Pupils demonstrate spiritual, moral, social, and cultural understanding, recognising and respecting diversity in their school and wider world.
• Wellbeing and Safeguarding: Pupils understand how to stay safe, make healthy choices, and access support when needed. This is supported by the integration of mindfulness practices into every lesson.
• Community and Belonging: Through Jigsaw’s whole-school approach, pupils feel a sense of belonging and pride in their contributions to the school community.

 

Celebrating Success

Our PSHE programme celebrates individual and collective achievements through:

• Weekly celebration of positive attitudes and behaviours.
• Whole-school assemblies that promote a shared sense of purpose.
• End-of-Puzzle outcomes, such as displays or activities, that involve every child and highlight their contributions.

 

Preparing for the Future

By the time pupils leave The Grange Academy, they will:

• Be equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate modern life with confidence and resilience.
• Understand how to maintain their wellbeing, build healthy relationships, and make informed decisions.
• Demonstrate the values and attributes needed to thrive as active, respectful, and responsible citizens.

Through a well-planned, inclusive, and engaging curriculum, The Grange Academy ensures that PSHE has a lasting and meaningful impact on the lives of our pupils and the broader school community.