SMSC
Royal Liberty School delivers Social Moral Spiritual and Cultural (SMSC) education fortnightly across all year groups. Within this, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and citizenship are also delivered. The programme of SMSC runs alongside a separate and complimentary Religious Education curriculum which encourages students’ spiritual and moral development also.
SMSC Lessons
The SMSC curriculum aims to give students a wide range of life skills plus opportunities for reflection and personal development. At the heart of our SMSC curriculum is a commitment to open discussion, practical advice and the Equality Act 2010. Our curriculum is designed to actively tackle the issues faced in our local community and the challenges and questions that our students face in a sensitive, age appropriate and practical way. We deliver SMSC to students fortnightly throughout years 7-11 and this is supplemented by weekly form time sessions in year 7-9. Additionally, we use assemblies and outside speakers/experiences to strengthen the culture of SMSC in the school.
Religious Education
The Religious Education curriculum teaches our students about a wide variety of faiths. At Key Stage 3 pupils learn about Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism.
At Key Stage 4 we challenge pupils to learn about a wide range of modern faiths, as well as Atheism and Agnosticism. In addition to this pupils apply their understanding of religion and faith to a series of moral and spiritual questions and issues.
Citizenship
Through our RE, SMSC and the wider school curriculums we deliver citizenship throughout years 7-11. We believe that this education is vital in establishing our students as well rounded, politically literate citizens. We use our curriculum to empower students in their political choices and understand the liberties and freedoms afforded to them in law. This curriculum also provides students with an understanding of the UK and international political systems. Additionally, we see this as a powerful opportunity to develop their critical thinking, preparing them for an ever more complex and quick changing information landscape.
Relationships and Sex Education
The purpose of RSE is to give young people the information they need to help them develop healthy, nurturing relationships of all kinds, not just intimate relationships. It should enable them to know what a healthy relationship looks like and what makes a good friend, a good colleague and a successful marriage or other type of committed relationship. It should also cover contraception, developing intimate relationships and resisting pressure to have sex (and not applying pressure). It should teach what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in relationships.
This will help pupils understand the positive effects that good relationships have on their mental wellbeing, identify when relationships are not right and understand how such situations can be managed. Our aim at The Royal Liberty School is to offer a programme of Relationships and Sex Education that sets information within an atmosphere of care for and trust in one another, and for teachers involved in teaching sex and relationship education to be as sensitive as possible to the differing needs and the rates and directions of development of each student. The curriculum continues to be designed with age appropriate education at the heart of its structure.
We aim to be as transparent as possible with families, staff and students regarding the delivery of RSE to ensure the very best quality education for the young people in our care. As such, please do not hesitate to contact K Ralston if you have any questions about the delivery of any part of the curriculum.
If you would like to view the school policy on RSE, it can be found on the school website under 'School Policies'. This document is reviewed and updated annually. This includes information about the exact topics and timings of delivery.