Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education (RSHE) is taught at Noadswood under the title Life Skills. It is taught across Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. In addition to the curriculum time, all students follow a dedicated tutor time programme which includes key RSHE/ Life Skills themes.
The course follows the National Relationship and Sex Education and health education curriculum. You can find further details of this by clicking the link below which will take you to the Department for Education website:
Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education guidance
This has been updated ready for delivery from September 2026 and, as you will see from the course outline below, in order to accommodate these changes and ensure all concepts are covered for all students, there is some repetition of certain elements across the different year groups.
Students are taught a range of subjects which will support them in understanding key concepts and key skills they will need throughout their life including topics such as sex and drugs education, first aid and finances to name but a few. Here is the curriculum overview for Sept 26-July 27.
Please bear in mind, these lessons are subject to change, as we incorporate changes in the new guidelines.
Year 7
During Year 7 students will study the following:
Autumn Term:
Understanding how the brain works and why we act in the way that we do. Neuroplasticity- how we learn new things and skills. Understanding our brain needs, and how to be ‘brain best’ for school and life. Getting our daily healthy DOSE- dopamine oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins, and understanding and controlling our ‘danger brain’. The 5 C’s- how we need to be comfortable, connected, that we count, that we are capable and have control. Healthy relationships, politeness versus rudeness, anti-social media, bullying or banter, recognising and resisting peer pressure, and being safe and private on social media.
Spring Term:
Target setting, attendance, resilience, self-esteem, social media and bullying (including cyber bullying), trolls, families, marriage, falling in love, parenting, puberty, hygiene.
Differentiating between wants and needs and priorities, cyberbullying and trolls, managing our finances.
Summer Term:
What are my skills and qualities, how can I grow and improve. Protected characteristics, stereotyping, intro to race and racism. Healthy foods and balanced diet, eating healthily on a budget, the importance of exercise. Why can’t we always trust everything in the media, social media stress, group messaging and chats. Smartphone addiction, algorithms, financial exploitation and online scams, the risks of gambling, anti-social behaviour and knife crime.
Year 8
During Year 8 students will study the following:
Autumn Term:
In 2027 ( as this was not yet introduced in year 7), understanding how the brain works and why we act in the way that we do. Neuroplasticity- how we learn new things and skills. Understanding our brain needs, and how to be ‘brain best’ for school and life. Getting our daily healthy DOSE- dopamine oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins, and understanding and controlling our ‘danger brain’. The 5 C’s- how we need to be comfortable, connected, that we count, that we are capable and have control.
Sex Education including lessons on consent, healthy relationships, toxic relationships, sexual abuse, pornography and sexually transmitted illness and contraception.
Spring Term:
British values (tolerance and respect), prejudice and discrimination, British values and extremism and radicalisation. Masculinity, misogyny and positive male and female role-models. Relationships in the media, diverse relationships, gender stereotypes and equality. Human rights including sexual harassment and the law, and child sexual exploitation and domestic abuse.
Summer Term:
Why is good quality sleep important, staying happy and positive, managing anxiety, mental health and stigma surrounding it. Using appropriate and legitimate health services, using prescription medication drugs and antibiotics safely, how to get help, emergency fist aid. Why can’t some people access education, why is volunteering important , homelessness, globalisation, sustainability, pollution, plastic and the environment, animal rights.
Year 9
During Year 9 students will study the following:
Autumn Term:
Positivity and happiness, managing anxiety, screen time- how much is too much. Sleep importance and hygiene. Healthy eating on a budget. Being responsible with our personal finances. Why is my appearance online important, deepfakes and the law, the dangers of cybercrime and the dark web, pornography and our brains.
Spring Term:
Personal safety, coercive, exploitative, abusive relationships, gaslighting and emotional abuse, stalking, harassment and the law. Forced marriage, divorce, separation and loss. Tattoos, piercings and body modifications.
Summer Term:
Contraceptives. Unplanned pregnancy- what are the options, abortion, adoption and fostering. LGBT rights, equality and equity- what’s the difference, hate crimes. Social media and personal validation, body image, eating disorders, managing social anxiety, mental health (including at work), community and support networks. Succeeding in a changing and futuristic workplace.
Year 10
Students have 1 hour per week of Life Skills and continue to study in line with the RSE and health education curriculum.
They will study:
Autumn Term:
Resilience, compulsive, unwanted and fixed behaviours, mob mentality and risk on the streets, personal safety. Stress and exam performance, different types of employment, CVs and job applications, future careers and the rise of AI. AI chatbots, poor advice and misplaced affection.
Spring Term:
Navigating a cost-of-living crisis, sugar, health and processed foods, fertility, gynaecological, menstrual and reproductive health. Neurodiversity, offensive language, bullying and microaggressions. Online extremism and radicalisation. Honour violence and killings. Online privacy and data protection.
Summer Term:
Online dating and the risks, parenthood and brain development through life, parenting costs and considerations. Responsible health choices (vaccinations, organ and blood donation). Virginity testing, hymenoplasty and the law. Pornography, sexual ethics and harmful sexual behaviour.
Year 11
Our Year 11 students access the key Life Skills themes through the dedicated tutor time and assembly programme.