At St Matthew’s, our PSHE and Citizenship curriculum is designed to support children in becoming confident, healthy, responsible and respectful individuals. We want every child to feel safe, valued and prepared for the opportunities and challenges they will face—both now and in the future.

Our Aims

Through PSHE and Citizenship, we aim to provide children with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to:

• Stay safe, both online and offline

• Be happy and healthy, making positive choices for their physical and mental wellbeing

• Build strong, respectful relationships with others

• Develop the confidence to express themselves and fulfil their potential

• Become thoughtful, active citizens within their school, community and wider society

• Celebrate diversity and treat all people with kindness, inclusion and respect

We are committed to educating the whole child, nurturing their academic, personal, social and emotional development.

Statutory Requirements 

While PSHE education as a whole is non-statutory, two areas are compulsory in all primary schools and are fully embedded in our curriculum:

1. Relationships Education 

All pupils must be taught about:

• Families and people who care for them

• Friendships, respectful relationships and anti-bullying

• Online relationships and staying safe online

• Personal boundaries and privacy (“private vs. public”)

This ensures children learn how to build safe, healthy, and positive relationships.

2. Health Education 

All pupils must learn about:

• Physical health and fitness

• Healthy eating

• Mental wellbeing

• Internet safety and harm

• Drugs, alcohol and tobacco education

• Personal hygiene

• Basic first aid

• The changing adolescent body

This equips children with essential knowledge about keeping themselves physically and emotionally healthy.

3. Citizenship

Citizenship is taught to help children:

• Understand their rights and responsibilities

• Learn about democracy and how decisions are made

• Contribute positively to their communities

• Develop economic awareness and financial responsibility

• Understand their role as active, responsible global citizens

Our Approach to PSHE and Citizenship

Through carefully planned lessons, circle times, assemblies, and cross-curricular links, we support children to:

• Develop positive mental health strategies

• Build resilience, self-esteem, and emotional literacy

• Recognise and manage their feelings

• Show empathy and compassion

• Work cooperatively with others

• Make informed, safe decisions

We believe that strong PSHE education has a powerful impact—benefiting each individual child, our school community, and the wider world, both now and for the future.