Relationships & Health

Believe

At Ridgeway Farm CE Academy, we believe that education is about the formation of character as well as the development of knowledge. RSHE lies at the heart of our Christian vision to nurture the whole child – body, mind, heart and spirit.

We believe every child is uniquely created by God, deeply valued, and worthy of dignity, respect and care. RSHE supports children in understanding themselves, building healthy relationships, respecting others and living responsibly within their communities and the wider world.

Rooted in Christian values of love, compassion, forgiveness, justice, humility, respect and service, RSHE nurtures identity, wellbeing, resilience and integrity.

We believe RSHE should:

• Nurture emotional wellbeing and mental health
• Develop self-worth, identity and confidence
• Build healthy, respectful relationships
• Foster empathy, kindness and compassion
• Promote dignity, equality and respect for all
• Support moral development and integrity
• Encourage responsibility and wise decision-making
• Prepare children for life in a diverse society
• Support safeguarding and personal safety
• Develop reflective, thoughtful individuals

Our vision is to develop children who are kind, confident, resilient and responsible, rooted in Christian values and equipped to live well, love generously and serve faithfully.

Learn

RSHE at Ridgeway Farm CE Academy is delivered through a structured, progressive and statutory-compliant curriculum that fully meets the DfE Relationships, Sex and Health Education requirements for primary schools.

We teach RSHE through Jigsaw, which provides a coherent, age-appropriate and progressive programme that covers:

Statutory RSHE Areas:

Relationships Education

• Families and people who care for me
• Caring friendships
• Respectful relationships
• Online relationships
• Being safe

Health Education

• Mental wellbeing
• Internet safety and harms
• Physical health and fitness
• Healthy eating
• Drugs, alcohol and tobacco
• Health and prevention
• Basic first aid
• Changing adolescent body (age appropriate)

Sex Education (Primary, age-appropriate and statutory where required)

• Growing and changing
• Human development
• Respect, dignity and relationships
• Taught sensitively, appropriately and in partnership with parents

Curriculum Structure (Jigsaw Strands):

1. Being Me in My World
2. Celebrating Difference
3. Dreams and Goals
4. Healthy Me
5. Relationships
6. Changing Me

Learning is shaped through:

• Safe, respectful learning environments
• Clear safeguarding frameworks
• Trauma-informed and inclusive practice
• Thrive assessments and wellbeing tracking
• Assessment for Learning
• Pastoral support systems
• Class discussion and reflection
• Collective worship and assemblies
• Cross-curricular links
• Pupil voice and leadership
• Family partnerships
• External agency support when needed

RSHE is embedded across school life through:

• Behaviour culture
• Safeguarding systems
• Anti-bullying strategies
• Online safety education
• British Values
• SMSC development
• Collective worship
• School ethos and daily relationships

Grow

Through this curriculum, children grow into emotionally literate, confident and compassionate individuals who:

• Understand themselves and others
• Build healthy, respectful relationships
• Manage emotions and behaviour positively
• Show kindness, empathy and forgiveness
• Demonstrate resilience and self-belief
• Respect difference and diversity
• Make safe and wise choices
• Act responsibly and ethically
• Live out Christian values
• Serve their community
• Protect themselves and others
• Live with dignity and respect

The impact of RSHE at Ridgeway Farm CE Academy is seen through:

• Positive wellbeing and mental health
• Strong safeguarding culture
• Confident, respectful relationships
• Emotional literacy and resilience
• Positive behaviour and attitudes
• Respect for diversity
• Strong pupil voice
• British Values in action
• SMSC development
• Confident transitions and life readiness

Children leave Ridgeway Farm CE Academy as grounded, confident and compassionate young people, equipped with character, values and wisdom to navigate life with courage, faith and hope — living well, loving others and serving faithfully as part of God’s family.