Life
Key Stage 3
The intention of the Life Curriculum is for every student to develop the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to manage as they grow up into adolescence and adulthood, alongside exploring many of the critical opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they will face as they get older and take a more active part in British society.
A range of teaching resources and expertise will enable every student to be safe, healthy and build the self-esteem, resilience and empathy to overcome and tackle barriers to learning and raise aspirations ensuring they can realise their potential in a modern and diverse society.
Year 7
Topics include:
- Building Relationships – including managing toxic relationships and reporting bullying
- Diverse Communities
- Online Safety
- Puberty and maintaining a healthy lifestyle
- Finance
Year 7 also includes Leadership Award whereby students explore what it means to ‘Be our Best’ through each of the four core values: learning, leading, ambition and progress.
Year 8
Topics include:
- Identifying future plans and goals and how to prepare for the world of work
- Emotional wellbeing and coping strategies
- Risky behaviour linked to smoking, vaping and alcohol consumption
- Diverse Communities
- Positive Relationships – including consent
Year 8 includes a visit to Scarborough Science and Engineering Week for all of Year 8.
Year 9
Topics Include:
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices
- Peer-influence, County Lines and substance misuse
- The Rule of Law and how it applies to young people
- Positive Relationships – including consent, sharing of nudes and sexual harassment
Year 9 also includes Futures whereby students explore a topics linked specifically to their future lives, including careers, finance and support during the Options process.
An Invisible Man theatre company performs YOLO to Year 9, which ties in with issues looked at in Life lessons, particularly those around consent and risk-taking behaviour involving alcohol and drugs.
Useful links:
General advice:
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Substance misuse
Careers
Online safety
Key Stage 4
Year 10
Topics include:
- Transition to KS4 and thinking about Post-16 Options
- Financial Security, including gambling
- Maintaining wellbeing and identifying concerns
- Substance Misuse and risks involved
- Sexual relationships – including spotting unhealthy relationships and pornography
- Addressing extremism and radicalisation
Students in Year 10 have the opportunity to attend a Careers Fair, alongside additional careers-based opportunities which vary according to the cohort. An Invisible Man theatre company performs Inside Out which explores the themes of mental health, healthy relationships and teenage pregnancy and complements the taught Life curriculum.
Year 11
Topics include:
- Managing a work-life balance (maintaining well-being)
- Exploring next steps – looking at FE/apprenticeship providers and finance
- Managing decision-making in relationships, including contraception and consent
- Diverse Communities – Recognising and challenging extremism
Students in Year 11 are given the opportunity to apply for post-16 courses in their Life lessons.
Useful links:
General advice:
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Substance misuse
Careers
Online safety
