Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSE) and Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE)

Vision & Ethos

At Cardinal Pole Catholic School, we are committed to educating the whole person and helping every student flourish spiritually, academically, socially and emotionally. Our RSE/PSHE curriculum plays a vital role in this mission by equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and values they need to lead safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Rooted in our Catholic ethos and inspired by our mission values of service, opportunity, aspiration and reward, our RSE/PSHE programme promotes respect, compassion, integrity, accountability, equality, empathy and high expectations. Through age-appropriate learning, students develop the confidence to build healthy relationships, make informed decisions, care for their physical and mental wellbeing, understand their responsibilities as citizens, and prepare for life beyond school.

RSE/PSHE and British Values are delivered through two dedicated form-time sessions each week, ensuring a consistent and progressive curriculum for every year group. Our provision is enhanced through the Ten Ten Life to the Full programme and a range of external visitors and specialists, enabling students to engage with important topics through both faith-informed teaching and real-world perspectives. 

Statutory Compliance

Cardinal Pole Catholic School delivers a comprehensive RSE/PSHE curriculum that meets the requirements of the Department for Education's statutory guidance on Relationships, Sex and Health Education. As a secondary academy, we provide RSE to all pupils in accordance with the Children and Social Work Act 2017 and have regard to relevant legislation including the Education Act 1996 and the Equality Act 2010. 

Our curriculum has been designed to support the implementation of the updated statutory guidance from September 2026 and ensures that all students receive accurate, age-appropriate and evidence-informed learning about relationships, health, safety, wellbeing and personal development.

Inclusivity Commitment

We believe that every student should have access to high-quality RSE/PSHE education. Teaching is carefully adapted to meet the diverse needs, abilities, levels of maturity and personal circumstances of our students. The curriculum promotes respect for all individuals and actively challenges discrimination, prejudice, bullying and harmful behaviours. 

Students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) receive appropriately adapted teaching, resources and support to ensure they can fully participate in learning and develop the knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to their individual needs. Teaching methods are adjusted as required to ensure accessibility and inclusion for all learners. 

Statutory RSE Policy

The school's full statutory RSE Policy can be downloaded from the documents section at the bottom of the page.

Development Process

The Relationships and Sex Education Policy was developed through a comprehensive consultation process during the 2025-26 academic year. This included:

• Review of national and local guidance by the Assistant Headteacher for Catholic Life and Personal Development.
• Consultation with teaching and support staff.
• Parent and stakeholder consultation meetings and opportunities to review policy documents and resources.
• Student voice activities to gather pupil perspectives on RSE provision.
• Ratification by governors following consultation and amendments. ​

Review Schedule

• Current Policy Version: Summer Term 2026
• Approved by: Governing Body
• Next Scheduled Review: Summer Term 2028

Curriculum Maps

The RSE curriculum is delivered through a carefully planned programme that revisits key themes as students mature and progress through the school. Learning is organised around the three core themes provided through Ten Ten's Life to the Full programme:

• Created and Loved by God (health, wellbeing and personal identity)
• Created to Love Others (relationships, consent and personal safety)
• Created to Live in Community (citizenship, responsibility and the wider world) 

Parents and carers can access full curriculum maps for each year group document section at the bottom of this page.

Integrated Delivery

RSE is delivered as part of the school's wider RSE/PSHE curriculum and is integrated across several curriculum areas. The curriculum combines:

• Dedicated RSE/PSHE form-time lessons delivered twice weekly by form tutors.
• The Ten Ten Life to the Full programme.
• Learning in Religious Education, Science and other curriculum subjects where appropriate.
• Workshops, assemblies, drop-down days and specialist external providers. 

This integrated approach ensures that students receive a coherent and comprehensive education that supports both statutory requirements and the school's Catholic ethos.

Working in Partnership with Parents

We recognise that parents and carers are the primary educators of their children and play a central role in supporting their personal development. We are committed to working closely with families and providing information, resources and opportunities for discussion throughout the year. Parents are informed when more sensitive aspects of the curriculum are being taught and have opportunities to review resources used within the programme. 

The Right to Withdraw

Parents have the legal right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of the non-statutory sex education elements of the curriculum.

Parents cannot withdraw their child from:

• Relationships Education.
• Health Education.
• Content that forms part of the National Curriculum for Science.

To request a withdrawal, parents should contact the Headteacher in writing. The school will arrange a meeting to discuss the request and ensure parents understand the curriculum content and implications of withdrawal. 

We believe that the classroom provides the safest and most supportive environment in which these important topics can be discussed and understood. 

Ten Ten Parent Portal

As part of our partnership with Ten Ten Resources, parents and carers have access to an online Parent Portal which provides information about the programme, resources used in school and guidance for supporting learning at home. The school uses Ten Ten's Life to the Full programme as the core resource for RSE delivery. 

Access the Parent Portal:

Visit the Ten Ten Parent Portal

School Login Details

Username: parents-cardinal-pole-catholic-school

Password: CPtenten

External Visitors and Specialist Support

RSE/PSHE education is enriched through workshops and specialist sessions delivered by external organisations and trained professionals. These sessions complement, rather than replace, teacher-led learning and provide students with expert knowledge and real-world perspectives. Recent contributors have included:

• Young Hackney
• The Schools Consent Project
• Forward UK

These experiences help students deepen their understanding of key themes including healthy relationships, consent, online safety, personal wellbeing and safeguarding.

Contact

We welcome ongoing communication with parents and carers regarding RSE/PSHE provision.

For further information, please contact:

Matthew Tisi
RSE/PSHE Lead
Cardinal Pole Catholic School