Well-being

Our school’s overarching aims and objectives for pupils are that at The Gatwick School we use choices, chances, culture as our key values. The Wellbeing curriculum afford children with an understanding of complex issues to improve their ability to make choices which will allow them to have chances in their futures and contribute to the culture of the school and their wider community.  We encourage all children and adults to persevere in their learning, persevere in their relationships and persevere when things get hard.

Our Wellbeing curriculum is underpinned by a clear set of embedded values and principles that complement the school ethos and permeate through the teaching practice, resources and classroom management of these lessons.

The Rights Respecting Schools Award is a key part of the mental health and wellbeing development for the children in our school. The underlying principle that we follow is that all children have the right to “Feel safe, feel happy and good about themselves, and be able to learn”. As part of our wellbeing curriculum, all children will be supported to recognise and understand their own needs, as well as developing the skills to manage these appropriately.

Our aim is for all members of our school community to make decisions that are, “Good for you, Good for Me and Good for everyone.”

Our school’s vision for our Wellbeing Curriculum is that children are able to keep themselves physically, mentally and emotionally safe and healthy, throughout their lives. They will do this by developing the skills and knowledge they need to make informed choices, build healthy & positive relationships and by knowing where to seek help when it is needed.

Within our Wellbeing Curriculum children will be learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health in an age and stage appropriate manner. These aspects equip children and young people with accurate information, positive values and the skills to enjoy healthy, safe and positive relationships, to celebrate their sexuality and to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing both now and in the future. We recognise the importance of this in preparing children and young people to live safe, fulfilled and healthy lives. The overarching objective of this learning is to support children and young people through a journey of physical, emotional and moral development via the teaching of essential knowledge, skills and values within the framework of the law and provisions of the Equality Act, 2010.

When this is taught effectively it can make a significant contribution to the development of personal skills needed by pupils to establish and maintain relationships. Our curriculum will ensure children and young people are encouraged to understand the importance of stable, loving relationships, respect, love, and care. It also enables young people to make responsible and informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

This area of our curriculum will be approached through evidence-based, best practice principles to ensure the highest impact on improving pupil health, wellbeing, safeguarding and lifelong outcomes. The following principles are based on research evidence and are supported by a number of MPs and Lords, a wide range of leading organisations including the NSPCC, Barnardo’s, The Children’s Society and education unions.