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S1/S2 Personal and Social Education

You will get one period of PSE per week.
This is taught in register classes and is delivered by your Pastoral Teacher.

What is PSE?

In PSE you will continue some of the work you have been doing in P7 – perhaps in "Circle Time" or other areas.

It aims to help you

• make the most of your self
• cope with the challenges of being a teenager
• get the best out of school life
• enjoy your leisure time
• develop good relationships with your friends and family
• understand and respect other people
• make decisions about your health, your personal safety, your future career
• know what your strengths and achievements are
• set achievable targets for yourself

What topics will be covered?

What sort of activities are involved?

In line with the guidance offered by the Scottish Executive on Sex Education in Scottish Schools, parents may request details of course content and materials used when dealing with these issues.
Any parent wishing to see the course outline and materials should contact the Rector.

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S3/S4 Personal and Social Education

All pupils in S3 and S4 receive one period of PSE per week. This is taught in pastoral groups and is delivered where possible by pupils’ own Pastoral Teachers.

Teaching Methods

The programme continues to expand pupils’ knowledge and develop their skills and values to enable them to make informed decisions in a range of situations concerning Health, Relationships, Academic Progress, and Career.

Pupils are regularly encouraged to assess their own particular strengths, while acknowledging areas of weakness needing to be addressed.

In line with regional and national guidelines the approach used is “Spiral”. This means that some topics are revisited with each year group allowing progression appropriate to the experience and stage of development of the pupils.

Pupils are encouraged to take an active part in their learning. Methods used include group and class discussion, role-play, case studies, questionnaires, and quizzes. The use of information technology is increasingly important particularly in the completion of the Progress File.

Course Content

S3 UNITS

1. Induction and Target Setting
2. Study Skills
3. Drugs
4. Making the Right Choices
5. Progress File and Careers
6. Bullying
7. Sexual Health

S4 UNITS

1. Target Setting
2. Study Skills
3. Healthy Lifestyles
4. Careers Education
5. Progress File
6. Choice of Course for S5

Pupils intending to leave at the end of S4 follow a separate PSE course after Christmas. They focus on:

Completing College or Job Applications
Interview preparation
Completion of Records of Achievement

There is also flexibility within the programme to deal with issues of particular concern to pupils at any point.

In line with the Guidance offered by the Scottish Executive on Sex Education in Scottish Schools, parents may request details of course content and materials used when dealing with these issues.
Any parent wishing to see the course outline and materials should contact the Rector.

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S5 Personal and Social Education

All pupils in S5 receive one period of PSE per week. This is taught in pastoral groups and is delivered where possible by pupils’ own Pastoral teachers.

Teaching Methods

The programme continues to expand pupils’ knowledge, develop their skills and values to enable them to make informed decisions in a range of situations concerning Health, Relationships, Academic Progress, Career.

Pupils are regularly encouraged to assess their own particular strengths, while acknowledging areas of weakness needing to be addressed.

In line with regional and national guidelines the approach used is “Spiral”. This means that some topics studied in earlier years are revisited allowing progression appropriate to the experience and stage of development of the pupils.

Pupils are encouraged to take an active participation in their learning. Methods used include group and class discussion, role-play, case studies, questionnaires, and quizzes. The use of information technology is increasingly important particularly in the completion of the Progress File.

Course Content

Increasingly in S5 pupils are encouraged to identify topics of particular interest to them though there are several topics which are generally included. These are in line with the three contexts suggested within the Higher Still guidelines.

Personal Awareness and Development

What is Expected of S5 Pupils ?
Study Skills
Goal Setting
Healthy Choices
Emotional Well-being

Social Awareness and Development

Citizenship
Working with Others

Vocational Awareness and Development

Progress File
Careers Education
Choice of Course for S6

There is also flexibility within the programme to deal with issues of particular concern to pupils at any point.

In line with the Guidance offered by the Scottish Executive on Sex Education in Scottish Schools, parents may request details of course content and materials used when dealing with these issues.
Any parent wishing to see the course outline and materials should contact the Rector.

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S6 Personal and Social Education

PSE in S6 takes a slightly different format. All S6 meet with the PT Pastoral (S6), Miss Baker, and the Rector for one period per week. During this period, topics of interest to the whole year group are discussed. Normally, this will involve discussion of issues which arise in the day to day operation of S6, visiting speakers and presentations by outside Agencies. In addition, S6 Committees may use this time to discuss their work with the rest of the year group and to conduct consultation exercises. At regular times throughout the year, the work of 6th Year organisations and committees will be reviewed. This will require the committee to present a report to the rest of the year group.

The second strand of PSE in S6 involves the students taking part in options or Short Courses which are appropriate to their needs. These will take part at varying times during the school week and will include UCAS preparation, interview skills, presentation skills, drama, leadership and a number of other options. Each student will choose the options most appropriate to his/her needs.

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