Leadership Development Time (PSHERE)

Leadership Development Time (personal, social, health and economic, relationship and sex education) will help students to be leaders in their chosen field because it helps them to aim high, by establishing clear and challenging goals with a defined pathway, demonstrate grit to overcome challenges whilst nurturing good physical and mental wellbeing in themselves and others. It also gives students the skill set to foster and maintain positive relationships to build successful networks.  

It takes students out of their comfort zone (and show growth) by overcoming challenges, all while nurturing good physical and mental well-being in themselves and others.  

It helps students tackle social injustice (and demonstrate responsibility) by exploring all aspects of physical and mental health, how to help themselves and those at risk safe on and offline. 

It helps promote ambition by providing support in establishing clear and challenging goals with a defined pathway. Students are guided to set and pursue ambitious objectives, understanding the steps required to achieve success in their chosen fields. 

It celebrates diversity (compassion) by teaching students to foster and maintain positive relationships to build successful networks.  

By valuing diverse perspectives, students learn the importance of empathy and inclusion. 

It helps students develop independence (excellence) by encouraging them to take initiative and make informed decisions about their future. This skill is crucial for personal and professional growth. 

Each term is themed around leadership linking with the Academy values of GRACE: 

Autumn: Foster and maintain positive relationships to build successful networks (Compassion and Responsibility)

Spring: Demonstrating grit to overcome challenges whilst nurturing good physical and mental wellbeing in themselves and other (Growth)

Summer: Aim high, by establishing clear and challenging goals with a defined pathway (Ambition and Excellence)

The RSE policy can be found here.  RSHE Curriculum can be found here. 

Parent Consultation

At Harris Science Academy East London, we recognise that parents and carers play a vital role in their child education and supporting their personal development and wellbeing. When developing and reviewing our new Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) Policy and curriculum we have proactively engaged families. We have done this through surveys, parent drop in sessions and information via our community bulletin allowing lots of opportunities to provide feedback on draft policy documents. This ensures that the views of our community are carefully considered and reflected wherever possible.

The academy maintains an open and transparent approach to RSHE, keeping parents informed about the curriculum content, delivery methods, and the educational rationale behind the programme. Through regular communication and access to policy documents on our website, parents are able to understand how RSHE supports pupils’ personal, social, emotional and physical development, while preparing them for life in modern Britain.

We are committed to ensuring that parents understand that effective RSHE is a key component of safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all children. High-quality RSHE helps pupils develop healthy relationships, understand personal safety, manage risks, build resilience, and make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing. By working in partnership with parents, the academy ensures that young people receive consistent messages that support their development into confident, respectful and responsible members of society.

The academy reviews its RSHE Policy regularly to ensure it remains relevant, compliant with statutory guidance, and responsive to the needs of pupils and families. Parent feedback is a valued part of this process, helping us to continually strengthen our provision and ensure that our RSHE curriculum reflects the values and aspirations of the Harris Science Academy East London community.

Safeguarding in the curriculum

Teaching our students about safeguarding is not limited to LDT lessons, assemblies and CED days. We are committed to never missing an opportunity to educate and empower our students with as much knowledge about the world around them as possible as they navigate their way to becoming young adults.  

We passionately believe that well-structured, age-appropriate preventative education with regards to safeguarding is most effective in the context of a whole academy approach. 

We have a vigilant and open culture, a place where students are prepared for life in modern Britain, that creates a culture of zero tolerance for discrimination and prejudice in any form.  

The safeguarding across the curriculum document can be found here.

Supporting students

At the end of each lesson students are provided with signposting for where they might seek support both internally and externally, based on the topics that have been delivered in the lesson. The LDT resources are added to the student SharePoint folder, where students can revisit the content of the lesson in their own time. For our SEND students there is a termly support session to ensure they are supported with their learning across all topics.

Supporting staff

Staff are supported in the delivery of LDT through regular CPD delivered by the safeguarding team and external agencies. Resources are planned centrally, and lesson visits are arranged during the LDT slot to support the delivery of these lessons. Less experienced tutors are paired with more experienced ones to ensure the LDT lessons are delivered effectively. 

Parents and carers

The LDT curriculum is readily available for parents/carer to view on the website and in each community bulletin the upcoming topics are shared including any key updates.

Parents/carers are free to withdraw their children from Sex and Relationships aspects of the LDT curriculum if they wish to do so. The only exceptions to this are the biological aspects of animal growth and reproduction that are essential elements of National Curriculum Science. To discuss this further please contact the academy: info@harrisscienceeastlondon.org.uk