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PDE Curriculum

The Personal Development Education (PDE), previously PSHE, at UCC is taught weekly to all students.  It is a discrete session taught on a rotation in tutor groups.  We have a dedicated team of teachers that teach in areas they have interest or expertise, to ensure the best outcomes for the students in these sessions.

Rotations are taught in 5 mini sessions which progress students through a particular area.  Over the 5 years at UCC, students will progress through 6 particular pathways which build a firm personal development education, including Sex and Relationships, Careers and Financial Capability, Healthy Lifestyles, Drugs and Alcohol, Community Awareness and Emotional Health and Well Being.  These are grouped under the 3 Core themes of Relationships, Living in the Wider World and Health and Well-Being.

The pathways take into account statutory requirements as well as the issues that we feel are important for all students at UCC in order to develop them as an individual and prepare them for the challenges beyond school.

The PDE curriculum can be viewed in the attachment below.

Running throughout the year there are a number of ‘Specialist Weeks’ on which we have a whole school focus through PDE, assemblies and activities in school.  These enable us to focus on national and global issues which are relevant and important to our students.

A list of the specialist weeks can be viewed here.

PDE is supported by a range of Additional Curriculum Experience Days (ACE) which develops the PDE curriculum and enables us to explore themes in more detail as well as offer experiences beyond that of the academic curriculum.  These are identified as 3 experience days, Enterprise, Ambition and Aspiration Day, Citizenship Day and Culture and Diversity Day.

An overview of the ACE Days can be found below.

Relationships and Sex Education

The aims of relationships and sex education (RSE) at our school are to: 

  • Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place 

  • Prepare students for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene 

  • Help students develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy 

  • Create a positive culture around issues of sexuality and relationships 

  • Teach students the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies 

  • To promote and uphold the school values of Honesty, Respect and Kindness.  

Further information can be found below in our RSE policy and Curriculum overview.