Character Education
Acting Subject Leader: Mrs T Schers
Subject Leader Email Address: teresa.schers@swale.at
I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.
ANGELA DAVIS
Subject Overview
Our goal is to equip students to be healthy, safe, and independent individuals, prepared for life both now and in the future. Character Education, which includes Religious Education and Personal, Social and Health Education, will help your child navigate the world and prepare for adulthood.
Students will explore topics crucial for their development, including
- Physical and mental health
- Online safety
- Healthy relationships and friendships
- Sexual health and puberty
- Drugs, alcohol, and tobacco
Our curriculum is built around six key questions that we revisit each year, from Year 7 to Year 13, to help students achieve a more sophisticated understanding throughout TSS:
- How to be their best self
- How to relate to others respectfully
- How to keep themselves and others safe
- How to express their identity responsibly
- How to fit into a diverse world
- How to maintain a healthy mind and body
Our Religious Education component follows the Kent Agreed Syllabus, enabling students to understand different worldviews and their impact on history and current events. They will engage in civil, reasoned discussions on diverse topics, preparing them to be active, thoughtful members of our community.
- Y7 - Sikhism
- Y8 - Buddhism
- Y9 - Islam
- Y10 - Christianity
- Y11 - Religion, Peace and Conflict
- Y12 & 13 - Philosophy and Ethics
This Character Education curriculum provides the knowledge, confidence, and skills each student will need to thrive as an independent adult.
Year 7
Term 1
Topic: Planning for the future, and what Sikhs believe
Enquiry Question: How can I be my best self?
Term 2
Topic: Identity, family and Sikh Gurus
Enquiry Question: How can I relate to others?
Term 3
Topic: Money, sex and life as a Khalsa Sikh
Enquiry Question: How can I keep myself and others safe?
Term 4
Topic: Caring for others and living with a faith
Enquiry Question: How can I responsibly express who I am?
Term 5
Topic: Religions and Science, values and expectations
Enquiry Question: How do I fit into a diverse world?
Term 6
Topic: Emotions, puberty and a healthy lifestyle
Enquiry Question: How can I keep my mind and body healthy?
Year 8
Term 1
Topic: Employability skills, and what Buddhists believe
Enquiry Question: How can I be my best self?
Term 2
Topic: Role models, misogyny and consent, the Buddhist precepts
Enquiry Question: How can I relate to others?
Term 3
Topic: Drugs and alcohol, belonging and mindfulness
Enquiry Question: How can I keep myself and others safe?
Term 4
Topic: Online safety, happiness and the Dalai Lama
Enquiry Question: How can I responsibly express who I am?
Term 5
Topic: Identity, community, bias and managing emotions
Enquiry Question: How do I fit into a diverse world?
Term 6
Topic: Caring for your body, addictions and choices
Enquiry Question: How can I keep my mind and body healthy?
Year 9
Term 1
Topic: Career choices and what Muslims believe
Enquiry Question: How can I be my best self?
Term 2
Topic: Men and women in Islam, British values and diverse identities
Enquiry Question: How can I relate to others?
Term 3
Topic: Challenging Islamophobia and gangs
Enquiry Question: How can I keep myself and others safe?
Term 4
Topic:
Enquiry Question: How can I responsibly express who I am?
Term 5
Topic: Five Pillars of Islam and Nine Protected Characteristics
Enquiry Question: How do I fit into a diverse world?
Term 6
Topic: Lifestyles, wellbeing, contraception and STIs
Enquiry Question: How can I keep my mind and body healthy?
Year 10
Term 1
Topic: CVs, interview skills and what Christians believe
Enquiry Question: How can I be my best self?
Term 2
Topic: British Citizenship, Equality and the Gospels
Enquiry Question: How can I relate to others?
Term 3
Topic: Emotional and mental health, stress management and marketing yourself
Enquiry Question: How can I keep myself and others safe?
Term 4
Topic: God, good and evil, and commitment
Enquiry Question: How can I responsibly express who I am?
Term 5
Topic: Successful relationships and work experience
Enquiry Question: How do I fit into a diverse world?
Term 6
Topic: Kent Career choices, addiction and recovery
Enquiry Question: How can I keep my mind and body healthy?
Year 11
Term 1
Topic: Religion, conflict, career choices and 16+ applications
Enquiry Question: How can I be my best self?
Term 2
Topic: Sexual relationships and consent, fighting injustice and unhealthy relationships
Enquiry Question: How can I relate to others?
Term 3
Topic: Sanctity of life, beliefs in the afterlife, sexual health and online safety
Enquiry Question: How can I keep myself and others safe?
Term 4
Topic: Pacifism, consumerism, money management
Enquiry Question: How can I responsibly express who I am?
Term 5
Topic: Stress and time management, revision strategies
Enquiry Question: How do I fit into a diverse world?
Sixth Form
Year 12
Term 1
Topic: What is the purpose of life? Careers, the universe and me
Enquiry Question: How can I be my best self?
Term 2
Topic: What makes a good adult relationship? Sex, sexuality and sexual ethics
Enquiry Question: How can I relate to others?
Term 3
Topic: How does an independent adult look after their health? Nutrition, stress and life
Enquiry Question: How can I keep myself and others safe?
Term 4
Topic: What is the right way to manage money? Budgeting, consumerism and globalisation
Enquiry Question: How can I responsibly express who I am?
Term 5
Topic: How does an independent adult know right from wrong? Conscience, morality and consent
Enquiry Question: How do I fit into a diverse world?
Term 6
Topic: How does an adult make informed decisions about drink and drugs? Alcohol, substances and self-worth
Enquiry Question: How can I keep my mind and body healthy?
Year 13
Term 1
Topic: How do I prepare to be a successful employee? Independence, social responsibility, business ethics
Enquiry Question: How can I be my best self?
Term 2
Topic: How do I prepare to have successful relationships? Keeping safe, sexual law and ethics, Utilitarianism and Kantian ethics
Enquiry Question: How can I relate to others?
Term 3
Topic: How do I prepare to be physically and mentally healthy? Stress management, conscience and decision making.
Enquiry Question: How can I keep myself and others safe?
Term 4
Topic: How do I prepare to be an independent adult? Being new, skills, qualities, aspirations and goals
Enquiry Question: How can I responsibly express who I am?