Thoughts for the day:

The ‘Thoughts for the Day’ are delivered by  tutor based around a themes which reflect the school’s commitment to promoting SMSC, British Values and our values of PRIDE and RESPECT. They offer students a time for reflection and discussion about a particular issue, quote  theme, question or image. They are based on the assembly theme for the week to promote SMSC, the school ethos and British Values. The focus of  Collective Worship is reflection, learning and developing tolerance and understanding.

Intent: The Guidance curriculum

All maintained secondary schools in England have a statutory requirement to teach a programme of relationships, sex and health education. At Burnside College, we do this through our Guidance Curriculum.  We ensure that the compulsory subject content is age appropriate and developmentally appropriate. 

It is taught in a sensitive and inclusive way with respect to backgrounds and beliefs of all students and parents. Also, we provide students with the knowledge they need of the law and the ability to support their own and others’ wellbeing whilst becoming successful adults who make a meaningful contribution to society.

Our Guidance Curriculum is also the time we use to discuss careers and other PSHE topics such as finance and personal safety.

Through the RSE Curriculum, we aim to:

  • Build upon the knowledge acquired at primary school
  • Develop pupils’ understanding of health with an increased focus on risk areas such as drugs and alcohol
  • Introduce knowledge about intimate relationships and sex
  • Meet the needs of all students including SEND students (as set out in the SEND Code of Practice) and the needs of the community
  • Develop the Burnside Character skills in all students
  • Develop students personal attributes such as kindness, integrity, generosity and honesty in line with the school ethos
  • To promote the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of students and school and in society
  • Develop student’s ability to form healthy relationships
  • Comply with the Equality Act 2010 and not unlawfully discriminate against students because of their age, sex, race, disability, religion or belief, gender reassignment or sexual orientation when planning and teaching the RSE curriculum

The RSE curriculum is available for all stakeholders to view on the school website and is broken down into topics so all stakeholders are aware of what is being covered and  when. Variations to timings may occur due to unforeseen circumstances. 

Burnside Guidance Curriculum Overview 

Burnside Guidance Curriculum Subjects Covered 

DFE Statutory RSE Objectives and coverage 

Throughout the Guidance Curriculum we also signpost our young people to support services available to them both in and outside of school.  These could include external support websites such as Kooth, Childline or the NSPCC.  Links to these are also available through our support and wellbeing section of the school website.

PSHE- Personal, Social, Health and Economic education.

SMSC- Spiritual, Moral, Social and Moral development

British Values

RE Curriculum: This is from the North Tyneside Agreed Syllabus  in Yr 7-9 and AQA GCSE content in Yr 10 and 11

Co-ordinators: KS3/4/5: Joanne Somerville and KS5: Kirsty Giles

SLT leader: Helen Patterson