At The Wren school, our Culture curriculum is the umbrella of our teaching of Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE), as well as our Relationship and Sex Education (RSE). These lessons are timetabled but are also tracked and threaded through our assemblies, student bulletin and through subjects such as Science, Computer Science and Humanities. Continuing from KS2 and taught across KS3,4 & 5 these topics play a crucial role in shaping the whole student including their personal development and character.

At The Wren school, we encourage students to drive this curriculum and give opportunities for students to tell us what they want to be educated about be that how to budget finances, handle difficult conversations with friends or curiosity around physical development. In 2022, in partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, we launched the Positive Choices trial, where our then Y8 cohort was surveyed on what they wanted to be taught during our Culture lessons.  The results of the survey have contributed to the content of our Culture curriculum content and following this, in 2024, we will have a student forum in place which will consult with their peers to continue to provide them with the ‘life’ skills they feel may be lacking from the standard academic curriculum.

Our Culture lessons provide a safe and supportive environment for your child to explore and understand a wide range of sometimes sensitive topics pertaining to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. These lessons help students to be prepared, have resilience and make sense of possible life experiences when they happen, and not be nervous about physical or well-being changes they may experience.

By equipping students with this knowledge and skills, we are empowering them to have confidence when navigating the complexities of the modern world beyond the academic including forming positive relationships; building self-esteem and having integrity; having empathy and respect for other’s differences as well as for themselves. These topics highlight key British values, attitudes and behaviours that are essential for character and personal development; attributes beneficial to them having balanced personal lives and so supporting academic and personal success.

At The Wren, we recognise that as parents and carers, you are instrumental in your child’s development and we encourage families to be involved and engage in conversation at home about PSHE and RSE to reinforce the principles and values taught in the classroom balanced with those taught at home. It is by working together that we can create a cohesive and comprehensive approach to your child’s development and education to produce well rounded and global citizens.