RSE/PHSE    

Intent Statement Thirsk Community Primary School   

At Thirsk Community Primary School, our RSE and PSHE curriculum is designed with our core values of ambition, compassion, and inclusion at its heart. Through Kapow Primary’s structured and comprehensive programme, we empower all pupils to grow into confident, respectful, and informed individuals who are well-prepared to contribute to their communities and navigate the complexities of modern life. 

Our curriculum is underpinned by the statutory guidance for Relationships and Health Education and enriched by broader PSHE learning. We ensure children develop a secure understanding of themselves, their rights and responsibilities, and the skills to form healthy, respectful relationships. In every aspect of this curriculum, we promote the four fundamental British values: democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance. 

We believe that personal development is the foundation for lifelong success. Our curriculum encourages pupils to aim high in how they see themselves and others. They learn to set goals, reflect on emotions, manage peer dynamics, and make positive choices around health, safety, and wellbeing. We give children the language of self-worth and self-efficacy, helping them to see themselves as leaders of their own lives and futures. 

Compassion is embedded in every lesson as children explore empathy, kindness, diversity, and respect. They learn how to support others, build safe and inclusive communities, and understand the challenges that others may face. Through open dialogue, reflective activities, and thoughtful storytelling, pupils are taught to value difference and advocate for fairness and respect. 

Inclusion is central to our PSHE and RSE offer. The curriculum is designed to be accessible to all learners and addresses issues around equality, rights, and identity. Identity and diversity are celebrated across all year groups, encouraging every child to feel seen and valued. Lessons revisit and deepen understanding in a spiral curriculum model, ensuring that learning is developmentally appropriate and inclusive of all experiences. 

We prioritise vocabulary and oracy development to ensure all pupils can confidently articulate their thoughts, questions, and concerns. Explicit teaching of key terms—such as respect, consent, responsibility, and mental health—enables pupils to engage meaningfully in discussions. Structured talk, debate, storytelling, and reflective writing are core strategies that empower children to use their voices constructively and safely. 

Our curriculum reflects the distinct character of our school locality.  Pupils are encouraged to think about how they can make a positive difference in their own lives and the lives of others locally and globally. Opportunities for community engagement and practical, real-life learning make PSHE and RSE both purposeful and memorable. 

Using visible learning techniques, we help pupils organise and retain their understanding. Knowledge organisers, dual-coded visuals, checklists, and success criteria are used to reinforce key concepts and vocabulary.  

By the time they leave Thirsk Community Primary School, our pupils will be: 

• Confident in expressing their identity and values. 
• Kind, respectful individuals who value difference and act with empathy. 
• Equipped with the skills and knowledge to maintain healthy relationships and lifestyles. 
• Able to make informed decisions and understand the consequences of their actions. 
• Ready to contribute positively to their communities with a strong sense of inclusion and social responsibility. 

RSE/PHSE  Implementation Statement Thirsk Community Primary School   

At Thirsk Community Primary School, we implement our RSE/PSHE curriculum through the carefully sequenced and inclusive Kapow Primary scheme, ensuring full coverage of statutory and wider personal development content. Our approach is driven by our core values of ambition, compassion, and inclusion, which are woven through every teaching decision, classroom interaction, and curriculum choice. 

We believe that every child deserves access to high-quality, purposeful learning that builds not only knowledge but also character and citizenship. Our RSE/PSHE implementation reflects our commitment to vocabulary and oracy, local relevance, reading across the curriculum, and visible learning techniques to support cognitive clarity. 

Our curriculum begins in the Early Years Foundation Stage, focusing on Self-regulation, Building Relationships, and Managing Self, laying the groundwork for lifelong personal, social, and emotional development. In Key Stages 1 and 2, the curriculum progresses through five key areas: 

• Families and Relationships 
• Health and Wellbeing 
• Safety and the Changing Body 
• Citizenship 
• Economic Wellbeing 

These areas are revisited each year, providing pupils with progressive learning that builds upon prior knowledge and helps secure deep conceptual understanding. Through a spiral curriculum, pupils develop the skills and values necessary to become ambitious, compassionate citizens of both Thirsk, North Yorkshire, and the wider world. 

Every unit is sequenced to provide clear progression and encourage children to aspire to take responsibility for themselves and others. Long-term and medium-term planning, supported by progression of skills documentation and statutory mapping, ensures that all children move forward confidently and successfully across each year group. 

Through purposeful, locally grounded topics—such as community roles, democracy, and healthy living—we provide rich opportunities for pupils to connect national curriculum content to real life in Thirsk and North Yorkshire, cultivating both local pride and global responsibility. 

Each year group begins with an introductory lesson that establishes clear, respectful ground rules, ensuring a psychologically safe space for children to express themselves. Lessons incorporate real-life stories, role-play, and discussion scenarios that encourage children to develop empathy, challenge prejudice, and celebrate diversity. 

We ensure that our teaching reflects and respects all learners by explicitly addressing the Equality Act, including content about different families, tackling stereotypes, and affirming individual identities. Children are taught how to respect others while staying true to themselves—developing compassionate and respectful behaviours in school and the community. 

All lessons are built on principles of inclusive practice, with clear scaffolding and extension opportunities to meet the needs of every learner. We use visible learning techniques, including success criteria, knowledge organisers, retrieval practice, and graphic organisers, to reduce cognitive overload and help children make sense of substantive concepts (e.g., rights, consent, wellbeing) and disciplinary techniques (e.g., decision-making, evaluation, reflection). 

Our inclusive approach ensures equitable access for all learners—including those with SEND and EAL—while upholding high expectations for all. Every child has the chance to succeed and feel valued within our school community. 

We explicitly prioritise the development of subject-specific vocabulary in RSE/PSHE. Lessons introduce and revisit language that allows children to confidently articulate thoughts, manage conflict, express emotions, and discuss sensitive issues. Oracy strategies such as structured discussion, debate, partner talk, and role play are central, helping children develop the emotional literacy and communication skills vital for modern life. 

We believe RSE/PSHE must feel relevant and meaningful. Our lessons include regular opportunities to explore local services, traditions, community groups, and pressing local issues such as rural safety, healthy lifestyles, and active citizenship in Thirsk and North Yorkshire. Children engage in real-world learning that helps them understand and contribute positively to the world around them—beginning in their own hometown. 

We recognise the crucial role of families in RSE/PSHE. Kapow provides materials to help teachers communicate clearly with parents and carers, ensuring transparency and shared understanding. Our implementation supports safeguarding priorities outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education, with lessons on boundaries, consent, online safety, and wellbeing introduced early and revisited often. 

We also draw on expert guidance through Q&A teacher videos and planning support to ensure high standards and consistency in delivery. 

At Thirsk Community Primary School, our RSE/PSHE implementation ensures that all children learn in a safe, inclusive, and ambitious environment. Through our curriculum, every child is empowered to: 

• Understand and manage their emotions 
• Respect others and celebrate difference 
• Speak with confidence and clarity 
• Take pride in their identity and local heritage 
• Make informed, safe, and compassionate choices 

We build children who care, contribute, and thrive—at school, at home, and in the wider world. 

RSE/PHSE  Impact Statement Thirsk Community Primary School   

At Thirsk Community Primary School, the impact of our RSE/PSHE curriculum is seen in the confident, compassionate, and respectful young people we nurture. Through our implementation of the Kapow Primary scheme, our pupils develop the knowledge, emotional literacy, and personal resilience to navigate the complexities of modern life, grounded in the values of ambition, compassion, and inclusion. 

Our curriculum has a clear structure for assessment, with each lesson incorporating learning intention checks and every unit supported by quizzes and Knowledge Catchers. These tools provide opportunities for pupils to articulate their learning, reflect on their development, and revisit core content in ways that reduce cognitive overload and support long-term memory—an approach aligned with our whole-school visible learning strategy. 

 Ambition: Developing Capable, Reflective Learners 

We see the impact of our RSE/PSHE curriculum in the way our pupils aspire to be the best versions of themselves—resilient, proactive, and ready to contribute to society. They are equipped with the tools to manage relationships, physical and mental health, safety, and economic decision-making, having experienced a progressive and challenging curriculum. 

Our pupils show ambition in their use of subject-specific vocabulary and demonstrate confidence in oracy tasks, such as structured debate, role-play, and reflective discussion. These skills are assessed and celebrated throughout the curriculum, and children are explicitly taught how to express complex ideas clearly and thoughtfully. 

By revisiting themes across year groups, children build a deep and coherent understanding of substantive concepts such as consent, community, democracy, and respect, and disciplinary techniques such as self-regulation, decision-making, and communication. They are able to make purposeful connections between what they learn and their own lives, both in and beyond school. 

 Compassion: Building Kind, Empathetic Citizens 

We measure impact not just by what children know, but by who they become. Our curriculum fosters a culture of empathy, social justice, and active listening. Through inclusive texts, diverse scenarios, and open dialogue, children are empowered to challenge stereotypes, celebrate difference, and show compassion toward others. 

Pupils demonstrate growing emotional intelligence and are able to articulate feelings, support peers, and recognise when to seek help. They show understanding of the protected characteristics and act as allies for inclusion. They engage meaningfully with issues relevant to their lives in Thirsk and North Yorkshire, such as online safety, healthy rural lifestyles, and respectful community living. 

Through reading across the curriculum, pupils are exposed to high-quality literature that extends their worldview, deepens empathy, and encourages reflection. These texts also form part of our assessment of impact, as children respond through writing, discussion, and role-play. 

 Inclusion: Empowering Every Child to Flourish 

The impact of our RSE/PSHE curriculum is seen in the way every child is actively included, heard, and supported. Assessment materials are differentiated and used flexibly, allowing us to track the progress of all learners—including those with SEND, EAL, and additional pastoral needs. Our visible learning approaches (including success criteria, retrieval tasks, and graphic organisers) help every pupil organise their thoughts and make progress with confidence. 

We carefully monitor children’s ability to access, engage with, and apply learning to real-world contexts. Knowledge Catchers and Assessment Quizzes allow children to show growth in understanding over time, while also supporting teachers in identifying gaps and adapting teaching. 

Our inclusive curriculum supports safeguarding, reinforces key messages about boundaries and safety, and ensures that every child knows how to get help and advocate for themselves and others. Children leave Thirsk Community Primary School knowing that their voice matters and that they belong. 

 Rooted in Place, Ready for the World 

Because our curriculum is enriched by the context of Thirsk and North Yorkshire, children are able to make meaningful connections between what they learn and the community they live in. Whether learning about family structures, respectful relationships, digital safety, or citizenship, pupils understand how these ideas play out in their homes, schools, and wider locality. This purposeful learning builds a strong sense of identity and responsibility. 

 Conclusion: Confident, Caring, and Connected Pupils 

By the end of their journey with us, children will have: 

• Met or exceeded the statutory expectations for Relationships and Health Education 
• Developed the vocabulary and oracy to communicate clearly, respectfully, and effectively 
• Engaged with a range of high-quality texts and real-life scenarios that shape their personal development 
• Built a secure understanding of concepts and skills through clear, inclusive and visible learning 
• Grown into ambitious, compassionate, and inclusive young people ready to make positive contributions to their world 

This is the lasting impact of our RSE/PSHE curriculum—measured not only in assessments, but in the confident, caring, and connected citizens who leave our school each year.