PSHE & Citizenship
Our PSHE and Citizenship curriculum is designed to educate, inform, and empower students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become healthy, safe, and respectful young adults, prepared for life and work in modern Britain.
This curriculum is further enriched by our Personal Development 'drop-down' days and complemented by our Religious and Moral Studies curriculum, ensuring a well-rounded approach to personal growth and ethical understanding.Subject Pledge
Curriculum Overview
Key Stage 3
PSHE Themes
Positive Relationships
Our vision for positive relationships within our personal development curriculum is to foster a culture where students understand and prioritise the value of healthy connections. We aim to equip students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to cultivate positive relationships with themselves and others. Through our curriculum, we promote effective communication, empathy, respect, and the ability to navigate challenges in relationships. We strive to create a supportive environment where students feel safe to explore the complexities of friendships, romantic relationships, and diversity. By empowering students to build resilient, respectful, and fulfilling relationships, we aim to nurture their personal well-being, social harmony, and future success. Together, let's create a community that values and celebrates positive relationships.
Staying Safe
We are excited to share with you a dynamic and crucial topic that our students are delving into this term: "Living in the Wider World: Staying Safe." In today's rapidly evolving society, equipping our students with the knowledge and skills to navigate potential risks and make informed choices is paramount. This term's personal development/PSHE curriculum encompasses a spectrum of essential life skills, including personal safety, online safety, as well as addressing pressing issues like the dangers of vaping, drugs and knife crime. Our goal is to empower our students with the tools they need to thrive in a changing world while prioritising their safety and well-being. We are committed to providing them with a holistic education that fosters responsible citizenship, critical thinking, and personal growth.
Together, we ensure that our students are prepared to make safe and responsible choices as they venture into the wider world beyond our school gates.
Health and Wellbeing
We are excited to announce the upcoming Personal Development theme, "Health and Wellbeing." Throughout their PSHE sessions, students will delve into topics such as mental health, maintaining physical well-being, mindfulness, stress management, resilience, and healthy online behaviours. Our goal is to provide students with the knowledge and skills essential for a balanced and flourishing life. By fostering a deeper understanding of mental health, embracing mindfulness practices, and developing strategies for stress management, our students are acquiring valuable tools that extend beyond the classroom. Amidst the challenges of today's world, our dedication to fostering not only academic excellence but also the overall well-being of our students remains steadfast.
Living in the Wider World ~ Careers
The "Living in the Wider World" aspect of the Personal Development curriculum encompasses various themes, including the transition to secondary school for Year 7, developing enterprise skills and exploring careers, and understanding financial management, as well as rights and responsibilities in the workplace. It provides students with a chance to assess their skills and delve into their aspirations for the future. On Thursday, February 8th, all students participated in our annual Careers Fair. By focusing on this topic at this juncture in the academic year, students can reflect on their experiences and encounters from the fair, fostering deeper engagement with the curriculum.
Living in the Wider World ~ Citizenship and Community
This PSHE topic delves into the concept of citizenship, emphasising the rights, duties, and responsibilities of individuals within a society. Students explore what it means to be a citizen, discussing aspects such as respecting laws, participating in democratic processes, and contributing to the common good. Through case studies, role-playing exercises, and discussions on current events, students develop a deeper understanding of their role in shaping their communities and advocating for positive change. They also examine the importance of values such as honesty, empathy, and integrity in promoting a thriving and inclusive society. By fostering a sense of community and empowerment, this topic equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to become active and responsible citizens in their communities.
Personal Development Days
Upcoming Personal Development Days
Coming soon...
Previous Personal Development Days
Peter Radford ~ Extremism in the online world
We had the incredible privilege of hosting Peter Radford for workshops that left a lasting impact on both students and staff!
The accomplished public speaker, teacher, trainer, and author, shared his wealth of experience in leadership, management, personal development, and education with us. His workshops focused on the pressing issue of extremism, particularly in the online world.
In his current role, Peter collaborates with businesses, organisations, and schools to shape strategies, create momentum, and navigate the challenges of change. His expertise is not only impressive but also deeply inspiring.
MADE Training ~ Getting students exam ready
We are thrilled to share that we've taken a proactive step to empower our Year 11, 12, and 13 students in their exam journey.
We recently had the pleasure of hosting Matt Smith from MADE Training for an informative 'Exams MADE Easy' workshop for Year 11, and 'Rapid Fire Revision' sessions for Year 12 and 13.
Our goal is to provide our students with essential skills that will make their revision and exam preparation a breeze.
Curious to learn more? Head over to the MADE Training website at https://www.made-training.com/ for additional information.
The Schools Consent Project ~ Legal Education Story
The Schools Consent Project delivered insightful hour-long workshops to all our incredible students. These sessions covered a range of crucial topics, including the legal definition of consent, identifying consent, bystander intervention, ages of consent, responding to disclosures, and avenues to seek help.
The workshops were not your typical lectures—they engaged students through a series of fun and interactive games and exercises, gently challenging misconceptions and fostering safer, healthier interactions.
By adopting a legal approach, The Consent Project addressed subjects that might otherwise be challenging or taboo. The aim? To give our young minds agency, ensuring they fully understand the laws surrounding sex and consent. Knowledge is power, and these workshops empower our students to make informed and sensible decisions.
Please see their website for more: https://www.schoolsconsentproject.com/
SEGRO and Learning To Work ~ The annual SEGRO challenge
Our talented Year 9 students embarked on a thrilling adventure at the annual SEGRO Challenge, skillfuly organised by our amazing partners at Learning to Work.
Teaming up with SEGRO and Waites Construction professionals, our students delved into the vibrant world of the Slough Trading Estate. They were set a challenge – to unleash their creativity and innovation for a new business concept at 201 Bedford Avenue, all while upholding SEGRO’s pillars of Creativity, Innovation, and Sustainability.
Our students, working collaboratively, crafted incredible ideas such as Go Carting tracks, an Animal play park and supermarket. Yet, it was Team Exodus that stole the show with their groundbreaking proposal – rentable office space for smaller companies, adorned with eco-friendly solar panels, a bug hotel, indoor trees, and units opening onto a communal garden. Their vision included a hub library, IT space, catering area, and ample on-site parking. The judges were really impressed with their outstanding teamwork and commitment to the project, earning them the highest marks during the presentation.
Now, we're thrilled to announce that Team Project Exodus is heading to the final in December, competing against other schools! We wish them the best of luck as they showcase their innovation and passion on a broader stage.
A huge shoutout to Learning to Work for their continuous support in shaping careers and fostering enterprise at Westgate through the annual SEGRO Challenge. Special thanks to the dedicated professionals who worked side by side with our students, sharing valuable insights into their career pathways and job roles.
Rabbits RSE ~ Empowering the next generation
We had the privilege of hosting a transformative workshop dedicated to the well-being and future success of our children and young people. In an increasingly complex world, where the boundaries between online and offline life blur, it's crucial for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge to navigate challenges and embrace opportunities.
The workshop focused on arming students with the skills to make informed decisions about their well-being, health, relationships, and self-efficacy. In a world where complex situations and risks are inevitable, this knowledge is their compass to lead them towards a safe, positive, and successful future.
At the heart of our commitment to empowering our youth, Rabbits RSE sessions played a pivotal role. These engaging and informative sessions, delivered by Laura, aim to bridge the gap between adults and young people when it comes to relationships and sex. The topics have been thoughtfully selected based on conversations with students, school staff, and parents throughout the year.
At the conclusion of every session, there's an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback, ensuring that the needs and concerns of our young generation are addressed comprehensively.
Surya Nagpal ~ Career insight at Sixth Form
Our Sixth Form students had the honour of hosting a special guest, Surya Nagpal, a 3rd Year professional at the global business consultancy firm Ernst & Young.
In a power-packed hour, Surya shared invaluable wisdom on alternative pathways beyond University – the world of apprenticeships! He offered priceless advice on the application and interview process for degree apprenticeships, which are known for their fierce competition.
This session was all about empowering our students with the knowledge and guidance they need to make informed decisions about their future.
Big thanks to Surya for shedding light on these exciting opportunities!
For further information, please contact our Head of Department
Mrs Corby ~ HWI@westgate.slough.sch.uk
Current Temporary Heads of Department: Mr King ~ NKI@westgate.slough.sch.uk | Miss Yates ~ NY@westgate.slough.sch.uk