Life Skills & Religious Studies
Life Skills Curriculum Overview
Our Life Skills curriculum equips students with the knowledge, understanding and personal qualities needed to thrive in modern society. Through Personal Development, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), Health Education, Careers Education and Citizenship, students develop confidence, resilience and independence. The curriculum supports students in making informed decisions, staying safe, respecting others and preparing for adult life.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)
Students explore a wide range of personal, social, health and citizenship topics.
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Transition and personal development | Democracy and politics | Human rights and social justice |
| Growth mindset and resilience | Consent and healthy relationships | Crime, law and consequences |
| Bullying and healthy relationships | Mental health and self-esteem | Careers and option choices |
| Puberty and personal hygiene | Substance awareness | Healthy lifestyles and wellbeing |
| Mental and physical wellbeing | Careers and employment pathways | Relationships, consent and contraception |
| Internet safety and financial awareness | Identity, discrimination and inclusion | Family life and responsibilities |
| Equality, diversity and community responsibility | Financial decision-making and citizenship | Justice and punishment in society |
Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Students build on prior learning and prepare for life beyond school.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
|---|---|
| Mental and physical health | Post-16 pathways and applications |
| Relationships and sexual health | Employability and CV writing |
| Online safety and digital risks | Financial independence |
| Substance misuse and addiction | Mental wellbeing and resilience |
| Careers and employability | Healthy relationships |
| Personal finance and budgeting | Online safety and risk awareness |
| Equality, discrimination and British values | Social issues, human rights and citizenship |
Assessment
Assessment is designed to support reflection and personal development through:
Knowledge checks and quizzes
Discussion and debate
Reflective activities
Scenario-based learning
Retrieval tasks
Termly assessments and reviews
Enrichment and Careers
The curriculum prepares students for successful adult lives by developing confidence, communication, decision-making and self-management skills. Careers education is embedded throughout, helping students explore future pathways, understand workplace expectations and make informed choices about further education, training and employment. Students also develop an understanding of citizenship, diversity, equality and their role within local and global communities.
Religious Education Curriculum Overview
Religious Education at Neale-Wade is delivered through a programme of dedicated RE workshops rather than through traditional timetabled lessons. The workshops are carefully planned to follow the Cambridgeshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, ensuring that students engage with the required knowledge, concepts and areas of study. This model allows RE to be delivered through focused, purposeful sessions while maintaining the expectations and intent of the agreed syllabus.
A key feature of the workshop programme is the opportunity for students to meet and engage with speakers from a range of different religions and beliefs. Visitors share their lived experiences, explaining what their faith means to them personally and how their beliefs influence their values, choices and everyday lives. Students are able to listen, ask questions and explore similarities and differences between individual experiences and traditions.
This approach helps students recognise that religion is not simply something that is studied academically, but something that is lived and experienced in different ways by individuals and communities. The workshops form a planned part of our RE curriculum rather than standalone enrichment activities, providing students with meaningful encounters alongside the knowledge and concepts set out within the agreed syllabus