At Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School we aim to embrace the spiritual, physical, intellectual, emotional, moral and social development of children and young people, and through an agreed approach to Relationship Education. We believe that we can promote the development of the whole child, so that children can grow in virtue, wisdom and stature, understanding both the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing spiritually, as well as moral aspects of relationships within a context of a Christian vision for the purpose of life.

At Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, children enjoy their learning in Relationship Education and take every opportunity to learn, love and grow throughout their journey from Nursey – Year 6.

Intent

The curriculum for Relationship Education aims to ensure that all pupils are involved in Relationship Education precisely because of our Christian beliefs about God and about the human person. The belief in the unique dignity of the human person made in the image and likeness of God underpins the approach to all education in a Catholic school. Our approach to Relationship Education therefore is rooted in the Catholic Church’s teaching of the human person and presented in a positive framework of Christian ideals.

At the heart of the Christian life is the Trinity; Father, Son and Spirit in communion, united in loving relationship and embracing all people and all creation.  As a consequence of the Christian belief that we are made in the image and likeness of God, gender and sexuality are seen as God’s gift, reflect God’s beauty, and share in the divine creativity.

Following the guidance of the Bishops of England and Wales and as advocated by the DFE Relationship Education will be firmly embedded in the Personal Social and Health Education /Relationship Education framework as it is concerned with nurturing human wholeness and integral to the physical, spiritual, emotional, moral, social and intellectual development of pupils. It is centred on Christ’s vision of being human as good news and will be positive and prudent, showing the potential for development, while enabling the dangers and risks involved to be understood and appreciated.

All Relationship Education will be in accordance with the Church’s moral teaching. It will emphasise the central importance of marriage and the family whilst acknowledging that all pupils have a fundamental right to have their life respected whatever household they come from. It will also prepare pupils for life in modern Britain.

Implementation

The curriculum for Relationship Education at Saint Patrick’s is taught using ‘Journey in Love’ as recommended by the Archdiocese of Liverpool. An aspect of the mystery of love is treated in each year group; children and young people are encouraged to marvel at the wonder and beauty of God’s creative love. This is reflected in each stage of a persons growth in the primary years through a series of progressive activities that focus on social, emotional, physical and spiritual development.

Early Years

Our aim for the children in Early Years at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School is to explore the wonder of being special and unique. The children will do this through:

Social and Emotional Development

To recognise the joy of being a special person in my family.

Physical Development

To recognise that we are all different and unique.

Spiritual Development

To celebrate the joy of being a special person in God’s family.

Year 1

Our aim for the children in Year 1 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School is to focus on families and specially growing up in a loving, secure and stable home. The children will do this through:

Social and Emotional Development

To recognise signs that I am loved in my family.

Physical Development

To recognise how I am cared for and kept safe in my family.

Spiritual Development

To celebrate ways that God loves and cares for us.

Year 2

Our aim for the children in Year 2 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School is to describe how we are growing and developing in diverse communities that are God- given. The children will do this through:

Social and Emotional Development

To recognise the joy and friendship of belonging to a diverse community. 

Physical Development

To describe ways of being safe in communities. 

Spiritual Development

To celebrate ways of meeting God in our communities.

Year 3

Our aim for the children in Year 3 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School is to describe and give reasons for how we grow in caring and happy friendships where we are secure and safe. The children will do this through:

Social and Emotional Development

To describe and give reasons how friendships make us feel happy and safe.   

Physical Development

To describe and give reasons why friendships can break down , how they can be repaired and strengthened.

Spiritual Development

To celebrate the joy and happiness of living in friendship with God and others.  

Year 4

Our aim for the children in Year 4 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School is to make links and connections to show that we are all different and to celebrate the differences as we appreciate that God’s love accepts us as we are now and as we change. The children will do this through:

Social and Emotional Development

To describe how we should be accepted and respected.   

Physical Development

To describe how we should treat others making links with the diverse modern society we live in. 

Spiritual Development

To celebrate the uniqueness and innate beauty of each of us.

Year 5

Our aim for the children in Year 5 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School is to show a knowledge and understanding of how we grow in awareness of the physical and emotional changes that accompany puberty and grow further in recognizing God’s presence in our daily lives. The children will do this through:

Social and Emotional Development

To show a knowledge and understanding of emotional relationship changes as we grow and develop.

Physical Development

To show a knowledge and understanding of the physical changes in puberty. 

Spiritual Development

To celebrate the joy of growing physically and spiritually.

Year 6

Our aim for the children in Year 6 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School is to develop a secure understanding of what stable, caring relationships are and the different kinds there might be. The children will also focus on Catholic teaching to know and understand about the conception of a child within marriage. The children will do this through:

Social and Emotional Development

To develop a secure understanding that stable and caring relationships, which may be of different types, are at the heart of happy families. 

Physical Development

Explain how human life is conceived.

Spiritual Development

Show an understanding of how being made in the image and likeness of God informs decisions and actions when building relationships with others, including life-long relationships.

Impact

At Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School we believe that we are made in the image and the likeliness of God and, consequently, gender and sexuality are God’s gift, reflecting on his beauty and sharing divine creativity. As a result of the teaching and learning in Relationship Education at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Primary School we know that our children grow and flourish healthily and holistically towards successful relationships, are at ease with themselves (and feel confident to speak to staff if they are not) and deeper knowledge of themselves.

The impact of our Relationship Education curriculum is measured in the experiences, confidence and competence of our children within and beyond the specific curriculum area. By revisiting and building upon social, emotional, spiritual and physical learning, children will deepen their understanding and show the knowledge, understanding and skills top reflect socially, emotionally, spiritually and physically and in turn become well rounded young people.