The Deputy Rector has responsibility for the P.S.E. programme and acts as co-ordinator. From time to time there are meetings of all, or groups of, staff involved to review course content, monitor overlap, and attempt to ensure some degree of continuity and progression in affective development.
BROAD AIMS
1. To encourage personal responsibility in all forms of behaviour.
2. To develop self-esteem.
3. To encourage respect and consideration for others.
4. To provide support and information for the pupils.
TRANSITUS
Key themes are Road Safety, Fire Safety, SU holidays, Personal Safety, Substance Misuse and Magazine.
(i) Friendships: issues in friendship groups, especially with girls, tend to be an aspect of the Transitus Year at some point. Focus on helping pupils to expand their friends and be welcoming.
(ii) Internet Safety: extremely important to include this Transitus PSE. Interactive workshop in the Computer Lab and drama performance with Fourth Year pupils.
(iii) Charity Support: East Park Home, Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, involvement with House fundraising week and Go Yellow Walk.
(iv) Body Changes: emphasise on how puberty will affect pupils physically and emotionally. Girls receive a talk from the School Nurse and boys have a separate session with their Form Teacher.
(v) Assemblies: each class individually delivers an Assembly to the whole school. This helps to develop closer links with Form Prefects and encourages team work and creativity.
(vi) Social Events: preparation for Christmas Party and Valentine’s Party.
(vii) Exam Preparation: learning styles, revision techniques, planning revision.
(viii) Progression to S1: preparation for new classes, welcoming new pupils and role of House Staff.
FIRST YEAR
(i) Introduction and Icebreakers: general chat about PSE and expectations / rules.
(ii) Preparation for Positive Relationships Conference: discussion about conference, expectations, outline of day, production of scenarios for discussion at the conference.
(iii) Solving Conflict and Peer Group Influence: use of ‘TACADE’ resources such as “What Happens in Groups” and “Peer Group Influence”.
(iv) Exploring Body Language and Assertiveness: use of “Jenny Mosley” social skills.
(v) Me as a Learner / Revision Skills and Managing Homework
(vi) Preparation for Christmas Party
(vii) Healthy Living: what creates a health promoting school, designing a poster, caring for myself, agony aunt, “think you know” website.
(viii) Caring for Myself: what would I do if?, Alcohol Awareness, First Aid quiz plus ‘TACADE’ resource “Taking Risks Together”.
(ix) Exam Preparation: study techniques and exam stress, explain logistics for exams, period and protocol.
(x) Preparation for Raasay: the journey, groups, conduct, clearing up, homesickness, team play, etc.
(xi) OK to be Different?: whose normal, stereotyping, Guinness Book of Records questionnaire.
(xii) Celebration of First Year
SECOND YEAR
(i) Welcome back and discussion about extra-curricular involvement: discussion on the merits of participating in extra-curricular activities.
(ii) Who I Am and Who I would like to be: letter to your Sixth Year self.
(iii) Rules, Responsibilities and Procedures: discussion on the need for School Rules.
(iv) Identity and Community: use of resources in shared folder.
(v) Worry Box: pupils submit questions anonymously.
(vi) Study Skills and Profile Forms
(vii) Identity and Community: values and dreams, mission statements.
(viii) Preparation for Christmas Dance and Party
(ix) Term Targets: writing your own report / review from last term.
(x) Wellbeing: exercises for interrupting negative thoughts.
(xi) Subject Choices and Decision Making: discussion of the process of choosing subjects.
(xii) Values and Role Models: linked to “Learning for Life” magazine.
(xiii) Motivation: discussion of motivation, what motivates you, mind sets.
(xiv) Resilience: looking at examples of famous historical / fictional people who have demonstrated resilience.
(xv) Bullying: unintended, racial. Use of ‘TACADE’ resources, “Don’t Bully Me” DVD.
(xvi) Review of S2 and setting S3 targets
(xvii) Managing Money: to be led by Business Studies department.
THIRD YEAR
(i) Me As A Learner: use of ‘TACADE’ “How Am I Smart?”
(ii) Study Skills: in preparation for October / November assessments.
(iii) Communication and Managing Stress: use of resources in shared folder.
(iv) Managing Emotions: anger management, expressing emotions, positive emotional health.
(v) Responsibility / Citizenship: preparation for Monitor duties; leadership responsibility and organisation.
(vi) Preparation for Christmas Party
(vii) Risk Taking: discussion of alcohol, smoking, drugs, peer group pressures.
(viii) Prejudice and Acceptance: discussion of “Tartan Turban” video; understanding and valuing our diversity; use of video on “Disability”.
(ix) Life / Work Balance: discussion about time management.
(x) Communication and Relationships: “My View of Myself”.
(xi) Citizenship: preparation for House Assembly.
(xii) Relationships: what we look for in a partner.
(xiii) Review of the Year.
FOURTH YEAR
(i) What is Careers Education?: narrow view / wider view.
(ii) Who Am I?: knowing your interests, strengths / weaknesses.
(iii) Record of Achievement: positions of responsibility, academic success, musical / sporting achievement, clubs / societies, personal and outside interests.
(iv) FutureWise: careers questionnaire.
(v) Using the Careers Library.
(vi) Websites on the VLE: student finance, Scottish universities, British universities, Oxbridge.
(vii) Communication Skills: particularly for job applications.
(viii) The Research Exercise: pupils split into groups to research specific faculties.
(ix) Discussion of group presentations: for example, RSAMD, UCL, Manchester, Edinburgh University and Law, etc.
(x) Analysis of Previous Year Destinations
FIFTH YEAR
(i) CVs and letters of application: with a view to applying for work experience later in the year.
(ii) How do I Learn Best?: looking at good / bad learning situations, personal study circumstances, personal responsibility.
(iii) Time Management: in depth analysis of factors affecting time management and sources of support.
(iv) Memory Skills: a brief look at previous research on memory recall and discussion of world memory masters’ techniques.
(v) Speed Reading: pupils tested over six passages with sets of questions to establish reading rates / effective reading rates.
(vi) Stress: looking at under / over stressed, positive / negative stress and strategies for coping with difficulties.
(vii) Preparation for Sixth Year: explanation of Common Room expectancy and appointments for positions of responsibility.
(viii) Revision Strategies and Exam Skills: final preparation for exam leave.
SIXTH YEAR
(i) UCAS Briefings: deadlines / guidance.
(ii) Advanced Study Skills: building on S5 – dissertations, lecture notes, being an active “learner”.
(iii) Interview Skills: ISCO presentation and workshops.
(iv) Exploring Self: personality / character / perception.
(v) Relationships: desirable personality characteristics.
(vi) Social Ideas and Beliefs / Philosophy: views on society, human nature and others.
(vii) Leadership: models of leadership, capacities required, managing people, etc.
(viii) Leavers’ Course: series of outside presentations, eg student money management, self-defence, community service, blood transfusion, etc. Activities such as sailing, visits, paint balling, mystery trip.
(ix) Memories and preparation for next stages
