Y7 participated throughout P3 in a PSHE drop down day surrounding puberty, Miss Silverman took our Y7 girls into the gym and Miss McQuilton and Mr Perry had the boys in the main hall. Miss Silverman said the girls were ‘absolutely amazing and asked mature appropriate questions, they also made beautiful posters on the emotional and physical changes that can happen during puberty’. The boys were engaged and participated well. I am so glad to see as the head of PSHE that most of our year 7 were able to already share knowledge surrounding puberty showing our PSHE curriculum is being impactful. As a school we wanted subject experts to deliver the Puberty drop down day to ensure those key skills and knowledge were shared with Year 7.

Year 7 students need to learn about puberty because it is a statutory requirement within Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) in the UK, ensuring that all pupils receive accurate, age-appropriate information about the physical, emotional and social changes they will experience, which not only helps to reduce anxiety and misinformation but also supports their wellbeing, self-esteem, safeguarding awareness and ability to make informed, responsible decisions that positively influence their health, relationships, academic engagement and overall life chances. From our student voice already we have had several reviews giving the workshop 4.2 stars out of 5. One of our year 7 girls said ‘they felt it was a difficult topic to talk about but they are so glad we did and I felt comfortable asking questions’. All of the students who have answered the poll have said they agree that Y7 should do this workshop every year. Well done Y7!