Pastoral PSHE
PSHE - Personal, Social and Health Education
Our aim is to promote the happiness and wellbeing of our pupils. PSHE, interwoven with the curriculum and delivered through small group discussions and lectures, underpins the pastoral life of the School. Our goal is to encourage in pupils sufficient understanding to develop as rounded, fulfilled individuals and as responsible citizens. Our programme is varied and sensitive to changing social pressures and individual needs.
Meeting with PSHE tutor
Each week the F Block pupils meet in their House group for about forty-five minutes with a PSHE Tutor. The Tutor is usually a member of staff, or spouse or a person who knows the School well, who enjoys getting to know the pupils and who is skilled in group work. The Tutor sees the whole year group together and maintains contact with them throughout the F, E and D Blocks. The sessions follow a formal PSHE curriculum, which covers issues such as smoking, drug abuse, healthy eating, etc. However, the tone of the group is very informal and subjects discussed also include the changes involved in coming to Rugby and personal topics such as friendships, relationships, homesickness, loss and death. Pupils attend a presentation about healthy eating in the Lent Term.
In the E Block, a specialist from the Rugby Drugs Education Team sees the pupils for two sessions, again in their House groups, and pupils also attend an Alcohol Awareness session. These sessions are followed by meetings with their PSHE Tutor.
The D Block have a formal lecture about relationships, given by an outside speaker, which is then followed up by their PSHE Tutor. They also meet to talk through any pressures of this particular year with their PSHE Tutor on an on-going basis.
PSHE at Rugby is a group-based activity, and all members of the LXX (YEAR 12) take part in twelve-weekly sessions with approximately eight pupils and a leader in each group. The group leader may be a member of the teaching staff or someone with a close association with the School.
Each group discusses a range of personal issues including stress minimisation, loss and death, eating disorders and self image; social and health issues including alcohol, drugs, smoking and healthy eating; and also explores the influence of the media, advertising and peer pressure.
The team of tutors is led by a co-ordinator who maintains regular contact with each tutor and arranges meetings at which the tutor team discusses good practice, exchanges materials and ideas and shares experience. The co-ordinator also arranges for outside speakers to train tutors and to speak to pupils.
The XX (Year 13) meet less formally and frequently (within Houses) with the aim of preparing for some of the practical and emotional aspects of life at university. They also attend a formal presentation about safe driving, and a Drugs Awareness session.
