Changing Lives Curriculum
“Understanding Ourselves, Others and the World Around Us”
Learning That Makes a Difference
Our Own Bespoke Curriculum
Changing Lives is our own bespoke curriculum, comprising Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), Health Education, Citizenship, Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education, E-Safety and Careers Education. Each year students study a combination of units which are age-appropriate and provide students with a curriculum that is suited to their age, key stage and year group.
Our Changing Lives curriculum equips students with the knowledge and understanding of themselves, others, and the world around them, supporting them through their development with us and into their futures, enabling students to become active citizens who can flourish in modern Britain.
The Changing Lives curriculum is further supported by our SMSC and form time programme and our Changing Lives Character Curriculum, which consolidates, extends and reinforces the knowledge and skills from Changing Lives lessons.
- Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)
- Health Education
- Citizenship
- PSHE
- E-Safety
- Careers Education
What Students Develop Over Time
The Changing Lives curriculum is designed so that, over time, students:
- Develop curiosity, resilience, responsibility and respect
- Develop leadership skills and understand how to empower and help others
- Reflect on how their choices affect themselves, those around them and their community
- Understand what a healthy lifestyle is, understanding risks, risky behaviour and where to obtain help, guidance and support, both within school and in wider life
- Maintain healthy relationships with themselves and others
- Understand how to keep safe, both online and offline
- Explore individual identity and the importance of community, including their role as a community citizen
- Develop an understanding of difference, diversity and the importance of inclusion and can articulate what respect for difference looks like
- Be reflective of their own and the beliefs of others, developing morally, socially and spiritually
- Understand modern Britain, British Values and discuss current political, social, ethical, spiritual and moral issues of the 21st century
- Develop their understanding of post-16 pathways, financial capability and the world of work
The Six Skills Students Practise
Changing Lives lessons are designed to ensure that students learn and practise how to reflect, develop oracy, demonstrate empathy, show respect, display citizenship and understand where to seek help and support. These six skills are the ones we assess.
Reflect
Reflect on their own beliefs and the beliefs of others; use new knowledge and apply this to questions, case studies and scenarios.
Communicate effectively
Use appropriate technical language and vocabulary orally and in written work; work well in paired, group work and whole class discussion, developing oracy and communication skills.
Demonstrate empathy
Understand and share the feelings or thoughts of others, or explain how problems and events may affect other people.
Show respect
Demonstrate what respect for difference and diversity looks like, listen to others, and debate and discuss with respect, showing a willingness to listen to others.
Develop resilience
Identify problems and solutions and explain where themselves or others can seek guidance and support, both now and in the future.
Display citizenship
Explain what is right and wrong and explain the impact of behaviour on themselves and others or society.
And one thing they know
Signposting — knowing where and how to seek support, for themselves or for others, both now and in the future. We treat this as knowledge rather than a skill: it sits alongside the six above and runs through every unit.
How the Curriculum Builds
Key Stage 3
Years 7 to 9At Key Stage 3 our students study a range of carefully sequenced topics, supporting them through their development in an age-appropriate and age-relevant way. Deliberate and careful sequencing ensures that across KS3, students deepen their knowledge and understanding of themselves and the world around them. This is further supported by the SMSC and form time programme and Changing Lives Character Curriculum.
The curriculum starts in Year 7, exploring identity, friendships and puberty, providing students with the knowledge, understanding and time to reflect on transition and what this means for them. This knowledge is built upon throughout the year as students continue to explore their Health and Wellbeing across each term; the same approach applies to all other units of work, with, for example, consent repeatedly revisited throughout the KS3 spiral.
The spiral nature of the curriculum ensures that students know and remember more over time, deepening their knowledge and understanding as they progress from Year 7 to Year 9. Each unit is designed to support students with transitions they may be making at the time and to equip them for the wider world.
- Reflect
- Communicate effectively
- Demonstrate empathy
- Show respect
- Develop resilience
- Display citizenship
Key Stage 4
Years 10 and 11The Key Stage 4 Changing Lives curriculum begins with an exploration of careers and leadership, consolidating and extending students’ knowledge and understanding of post-16 options, aspirations and personal qualities, supporting them with their transition to Year 10.
Across KS4, students build on, develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of themselves and others, drawing on the foundational knowledge from KS3. The curriculum at KS4 reflects students’ stage of development, contextual factors and prior knowledge, ensuring that the curriculum is age-appropriate and age-relevant.
At KS4, explicit links in students’ Changing Lives learning are present across the SMSC and tutor time programme and wider opportunities, where students apply and practise their learning in context.
- Reflect
- Communicate effectively
- Demonstrate empathy
- Show respect
- Develop resilience
- Display citizenship
Key Stage 5
Years 12 and 13The Key Stage 5 Changing Lives curriculum supports students to deepen their knowledge of themselves, others and the world around them, focusing on topics which support students’ developing and growing independence. It aims to empower students with the knowledge, skills and confidence that they need to lead a healthy, safe and fulfilling life.
Through learning about health and wellbeing, relationships, digital resilience, financial capability and careers, students develop their understanding of resilience, responsibility and independence needed to make informed decisions, manage challenges and realise their aspirations.
The KS5 Changing Lives curriculum aims to prepare our students for adulthood by supporting their personal growth, emotional wellbeing, positive relationships, future pathways and active participation in society.
- Reflect
- Communicate effectively
- Demonstrate empathy
- Show respect
- Develop resilience
- Display citizenship
The Learning Journey
Exactly what is taught, in every term, from Year 7 to Year 13. Each unit names the part of the Changing Lives curriculum it belongs to.
- Health and Wellbeing
- RSE
- Citizenship and BV
- Careers
- E-Safety
- PSHE
- Financial Capability
| Year group | Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 7 | RSEWho am I? Me, Puberty and My Relationships with Others | Citizenship and BVMy Community | Health and WellbeingRisks: The World Around Me | Health and WellbeingPhysical Health | Health and WellbeingMental Health | E-SafetyBeing Safe and Confident Online |
| Year 8 | Health and WellbeingBody and Mind | Citizenship and BVCommunity and Diversity | RSERisks - Staying Safe Online | E-SafetyFake News and Misinformation | CareersMy Future: The World of Work | RSERisks - Staying Safe Offline |
| Year 9 | Health and WellbeingEmotional Health in a Digital World | RSELiving in the Wider World | RSERisks - Keeping Safe | CareersWhat’s Out There? | Citizenship and BVMe and Others | Health and WellbeingRisks: My Body |
| Year 10 | CareersLeadership and Choices | RSESexual Health and Safe Sex | RSESexual Health and Safe Sex | Citizenship and BVBritish Values and Respect | Health and WellbeingRelationships | Citizenship and BVUK Politics and Democracy |
| Year 11 | CitizenshipCriminality | PSHELearn to Learn | CareersMy Future: Now, and Beyond | Health and WellbeingHealth and Mind | CitizenshipFinancial Capability | Health and WellbeingSelf-concept and Healthy Lifestyles |
Scroll the table sideways to see every term.
| Year group | Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 | Spring 1 | Spring 2 | Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 12 | Health and WellbeingStress – Our Brain and Body | Health and WellbeingLifestyle Balance | RSEHealthy Relationships | RSEBeing Responsible for Sexual Health | E-SafetyDeveloping Digital Resilience | Financial CapabilityThe World of Work, Tax and Bills |
| Year 13 | CareersRealising my Aspirations | Health and WellbeingPreparing for Independence | Health and WellbeingManaging Exam Stress | Revision, Study Support and Preparing for My Next Steps | ||
Scroll the table sideways to see every term.
Want to Know More?
If you have any questions about the Changing Lives curriculum or what your child is learning this term, we would be glad to hear from you.
Contact Us