RSHE

Relationship, Sex and Heath Education at St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School

We acknowledge that Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Citizenship, as well as Relationship and Sex Education (RSE), are all underpinned by a theology of relationship and are all encompassed in the title ‘Relationships and Sex Education’ (RSE).

Our belief in the unique dignity of the human person as made in the image and likeness of God underpins the approach to all education in our school. Our approach to relationship and sex education therefore is rooted in the Catholic Church’s teaching of the human person and is presented positively and prudently.

A Journey in Love is a resource created by Sister Jude Groden of BRES. It is the recommended programme of study for Catholic schools for Sex and Relationship Education, and has been written as a progressive scheme of work that supports the Religious Education, PSHE and Science curricula taught within the school.

As children progress through school, they discover more and more about themselves and the wider wold. This thirst for learning new things in all aspects of life is fostered by the school, who attempt to create a safe, stimulating environment for learning; supporting all children in their development. Our mission statement which drives the school, attempts to achieve this goal following the Gospel values of truth and respect, understanding our journey as children of God, both special and unique.

Central to our work within the school is learning about our faith, including understanding ourselves, our position in our community and how we develop as human beings – our spiritual, social, emotional and physical development. This is how A Journey in Love fits in to the school’s curriculum. The scheme permeates through all levels of learning throughout the school. It focuses on friendship, family, community, relationships and spirituality; a guide to the children’s development as young Catholics.

As you would expect, not all issues related to personal development are covered by the end of Year 6. The content is age appropriate and is taught with sensitivity, taking into account the children’s level of maturity in regard to the delivery of the lessons. Our teaching sensitively recognises that some children may have a different structure of support around them.

Journey in Love Overview for Parents

Year Group	Aims
Early Years	The wonder of being special and unique: To explore the wonder of being special and unique.
Year 1	We meet God’s love in our family: To focus on families especially growing up in a loving, secure and stable home.
Year 2	We meet God’s love in the community: To describe how we are growing and developing in diverse communities that are God-given.
Year 3	How we live in love: To describe and give reasons for how we grow in love in caring and happy friendships where we are secure and safe.
Year 4	God loves us in our differences: To make links and connections to show that we are all different. To celebrate these differences as we appreciate that God’s love accepts us as we are now and as we change.
Year 5	God loves us in our changing and developing: Show a knowledge and understanding of how we grow in awareness of the physical and emotional changes that accompany puberty – sensitivity, mood swings, anger, boredom etc. and grow further in recognising God’s presence in our daily lives.
Year 6	The wonder of God’s love in creating new life: To develop a secure understanding of what stable, caring relationships are and the different kinds there may be. Focusing on Catholic teaching, children will also know and understand about the conception of a child within marriage.

Journey in Love materials are shared with parents at our annual 'Meet the Teacher' meetings which take place every September.

Please note: During academic year 2025/26 there will be a consultation with parents prior to changing our RSHE scheme to TenTen "Live life to the full plus".