Wellbeing
At King Edward's Curricular Wellbeing follows a bespoke curriculum taught by specialist staff. Based upon the foundations of PSHE, Curricular Wellbeing is ever-changing as it is adapted in response to the emerging needs within the school body. The key topics covered at KES are: health & wellbeing, relationships, and living in the wider world.
In the sections below, some of the topics covered for each year group are shown. Please note, this doesn't include all topics and parents are invited to contact Mr Jackson if they are concerned about a particular issue and would like to discuss how it is covered within the programme.
Head of Department, Mr Jackson, shares more information about Wellbeing at King Edward VI School.
Year 7
In Year 7, students will study the following topics:
Term 1: organisation, communication, friendships, boundaries, anti-bullying
Term 2: respect, communication, mental health, cyber safety, neurodiversity
Term 3: drugs, alcohol and tobacco, keeping healthy, climate change, careers
Year 8
In Year 8, students will study the following topics:
Term 1: environment, emotional intelligence, friendships, Imperialism, anti-bullying, stereotypes, social norms, gender identities
Term 2: courts and legal system, bereavement, suicide, sexting, myths and facts about sex, relationships, consent, neurodiversity, careers
Term 3: gratitude, emotional resilience, eating disorders, gambling, peer pressure, illegal drugs, consumer rights, budgeting, purpose of life
Year 8 are taught Wellbeing by pastoral staff who have been trained to deliver difficult topics, in two periods per fortnight.
Year 9
In Year 9, students will study the following topics:
Term 1: sleep, eating, environment, bereavement, family models, disability awareness, imperialism, anti-bullying, radicalisation, racism
Term 2: careers, abuse, sexual harassment, sex, consent, pornography, body image, mental health, online footprint, careers
Term 3: institutional sexism, same sex relationships, exam stress, citizenship, encountering drugs alcohol and tobacco, self-awareness, resilience, materialism
Year 10
In Year 10, students will study the following topics:
Term 1: environment, drugs and the law, self harm, censorship, imperialism, gaslighting, emotional literacy
Term 2: mental health in adults, online relationships, healthy intimate relationships, contraception and STI’s, abortion
Term 3: gender identity, sexism, careers, citizenship
Year 11
In Year 11, students will study the following topics:
Term 1: circular economy, sexual norms and expectations, pornography, rape culture, imperialism, respectful relationships, tax and finances
Term 2: eating disorders, exam stress, festivals parties and going out, careers
Enrichment Opportunities
Clubs and Opportunities
Given the swathe of research showing the wellbeing benefits of exercise and playing music there are a wealth of both sporting and musical clubs to choose from. Outside of this, other clubs which promote good mental health and can provide mindful opportunities include;
- Art Character Design (Year 7 and Lower School)
- Library leaders (all years)
- Cactus Club (all years)
- Card Games (all years)
- Chess (all years)
- Cookery (Year 10)
- Diversity Societies – FemSoc, MenSoc, KesKweers, Kes Around the World, MindSoc (all years)
- Debating Club (all years)
- Doodle Club (all years)
- E-Safety Cyber Ambassadors (by selection)
- Hobbies Club (all years)
- Scamp Club (all years)
- Sewing Club (Year 8)
- Yoga and Meditation (all years)
