Chaucer Subject Intent
The LIFE curriculum at Chaucer aims to be accessible to all and gives students the knowledge, skills and attributes they need to keep themselves healthy and safe and to prepare them to be successful in life and work in the today’s society.
LIFE develops pupils in 4 main areas, Learning and thinking skills, Interpersonal skills, Financial Awareness and Emotional Intelligence. Most of the modules students will study meet more than one of these areas creating links and opportunities for critical evaluation. We try to be as responsive as possible so issues that occur within school or locally, nationally or globally are frequently covered in LIFE.
We aim to help students develop the ability to thrive as individuals, as members of a family and members of society and to provide them with a knowledge of their world, locally, nationally and globally and to give them the confidence to tackle the moral, social and cultural issues that are part of growing up. We aim to help students learn about their rights and responsibilities and appreciate what it means to be part of a diverse society. We teach students skills in a wide range of topics from making responsible decisions around smoking, alcohol and drugs to succeeding in college and employment. LIFE helps pupils to manage critical opportunities, challenges and responsibilities they will face growing up in an ever-changing world.
Curriculum description
Year 7 LIFE
Half Term 1
Getting on and settling in.
Students learn about moving to secondary school and how to stay healthy both physically and mentally.
Democracy
Students learn about local and national government and take part in student council elections.
Half Term 2
Bullying
Students learn about the different types of bullying and where to get help. It also teaches aspects of resilience.
Careers, enterprise and charities
Student learn START profile and work towards understanding their qualities and skills. They also plan and resources a Christmas fayre to raise money for the school’s charity.
Half term 3
First Aid
students learn basic first aid using resources from the RED Cross.
Growth Mindset
Students learn about growth mindset and develop their skills in resilience.
Half term 4
Smoking
Students take part in a research project around the risks and consequences of smoking. Students develop their oracy and presentation skills by taking part in an assembly showcasing their work.
Half term 5
Finance
Students learn basic finance terms and how to shop safely including navigating online shopping. They learn to compare deals (using numeracy skills) and look at the SMSC impact of money and products.
Body image
Students learn about body image and the impact of the media.
Half term 6
Safe and sound
Students learn a variety of ways to stay safe in the period coming up to the summer holidays.
Community Cohesion
Students are taking part in a community cohesion trial nationwide. Students will develop their critical thinking skills and objectivity while looking at the issues surrounding mixed communities.
Theme Days – November - RSE and June - Road Safety
Year 8 LIFE
Half Term 1
Finance
Students look at loan sharks through the eyes of someone who was affected by this. Students look at different types of lending and borrowing and the risks and consequences of each.
Community Cohesion
Students are taking part in a community cohesion trial nationwide. Students will develop their critical thinking skills and objectivity while looking at the issues surrounding mixed communities.
Half Term 2
Discrimination
Students will look at disability discrimination and how it affects others.
Crime and communities
Students will consider the experience of the target setting day and build on the knowledge they learnt while investigating the law and consequences of breaking them.
Half Term 3
Relationships and families
Students will look at positive and negative relationships.
Half term 4
Alcohol and Psychotropic substances.
Students will investigate issues around alcohol consumption and psychotropic substances (legal highs) They will present their findings to their class at the end of the module.
Half term 5
Fearless and knife crime
Students will study the fearless program, through looking at gangs and knife crime through a story.
Ghost Street
Students will look at the impact of Road Traffic Accidents and the causes of them.
Half Term 6
Careers
Students will use the START program to develop their careers knowledge.
Grooming
Students will look at how people are groomed both online and in person and the impact it has on their lives.
Theme days - November – Prison Me? NO WAY! June – First Aid.
Year 9 LIFE
Half term 1
Body Image
Students will look at the issues surrounding body image and how to be positive.
Tattooing and piercing
Students will look at the issues of tattooing and piercing using DAN AID resources.
Half term 2
Homophobia – FIT
Students will learn about the impact of homophobia
Runaways
Students will understand the possible consequences of running away and the social impact.
Half term 3
Organ donation
Students will understand the legal and moral issues surrounding organ donation
Half term 4
Drugs
Students will investigate the issue of drugs and the social, moral and cultural impact.
Half term 5
Finance and Careers
Students will look at finance and careers, including updating their START profile and investigating different types of bank accounts.
Half term 6
First Aid
Students will learn first aid supported by the Red Cross resources.
Community Cohesion project
Students are taking part in a community cohesion trial nationwide. Students will develop their critical thinking skills and objectivity while looking at the issues surrounding mixed communities.
Theme Days – November – RSE; June – Talk for writing
KS4 LIFE
Year 10
Half Term 1
Mental health
Students will look at issues surrounding mental health, common mental health conditions and ways to keep healthy.
Community Cohesion Project
Students are taking part in a community cohesion trial nationwide. Students will develop their critical thinking skills and objectivity while looking at the issues surrounding mixed communities.
Half Term 2
Collision
Students will cover issues surrounding peer pressure and how to say no.
British Values
Students will look at British Values and how they fit into a multicultural society
Half Term 3
Grooming
Students will learn about the issues of grooming and the impact upon peoples lives.
Half Term 4
First Aid
Students will learn about basic first aid, supported by the red cross resources.
Half Term 5
Finance and Careers
Students complete a cause and effect module where they are given a life path and they have to make relevant financial decisions based on that path. Students will look at their options for the future.
Half Term 6
Relationships and ethics
Students will look at positive and negative relationships and other moral and ethical issues.
Theme Days – November Prison, Me? No Way! June – Careers.
Year 11
Half term 1
Mental Health
Students will look at issues surrounding mental health, common mental health conditions and ways to keep healthy.
The rest of the LIFE curriculum is passed over to careers and college applications. Once complete this give the students the opportunity to revise with key subject staff.
