Character Education
Subject Leader: Mrs K Wren
Subject Leader Email Address: kimberly.wren@swale.at
Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR
Subject Overview
Character Education underpins the wider school curriculum so that our students can truly be ‘Empowered through Learning’. Students will deepen their own understanding of the six core character traits: love of life and learning, resilience, honesty, courage, self-discipline and kindness, and learn how to embrace and develop them so that they are ready, at the end of school, to move on to a happy and successful adult life. They will gain the knowledge that will enable them to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships and to build self-efficacy.
Year 7
In Year 7, students will start to think about their own lives and their place in the world. They will study relationships, healthy living, similarities and differences, and dreams and goals. They will begin to develop their reflection skills and learn how to use these in a variety of situations. To support wellbeing, students will also learn mindfulness skills.
Term 1
How do I fit into the world I live in?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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What is RE? Freedom of faith in the UK Religious belief and practice Life of Guru Nanak |
Identity My influences Peer pressure Online identity Media influences British Values Mutual respect Democracy Individual liberty |
Term 2
Do we need to feel the same to belong?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Charity and worship What does it mean to be a teen Sikh? What do Sikhs believe about God? Who is the last Guru, Guru Granth Sahib? Sikh attitudes towards equality |
Prejudice and discrimination Discrimination in school Tackling discriminatory language Attitudes and values Challenging stereotypes Bullying Consequences of bullying Cyber bullying - good communication |
Term 3
How do my choices affect my dreams and goals?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Sikhism and the Five K’s What difference does it make to believe in religion? |
Dreams and goals Achieving my dreams and goals Coping strategies Responsibility Choices and consequences County Lines - gangs |
Term 4
Why is it important to take care of my health and well-being?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religious beliefs about resurrection Religious beliefs about reincarnation and rebirth Issues surrounding immortality Evidence of immortality through religious accounts What is meant by immortality? What is a near-death experience What does science and atheism say about immortality? |
Recognising and describing emotions Managing stress Link between mental health and being active |
Term 5
Why is it important to build strong, healthy relationships?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Sikhism and marriage Sikhism and arranged marriage Sikhism and divorce |
Positive qualities of healthy relationships Supportive relationships Getting on and falling out Discernment and perceptiveness in relationships Assertiveness Treatment of men and women |
Term 6
What changes are happening to prepare me for adulthood?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Sikh celebrations Sikh festivals - Diwali, Vaisakihi |
Puberty Periods and wet dreams FGM and breast ironing Healthy relationships - parents, media and self esteem |
Year 8
In Year 8, students will build on the learning from Year 7, whilst also considering how their personal beliefs and actions can impact on others. There is a focus on resilience and how students can develop resilience in all areas of their lives.
Term 1
Can I choose how I fit into the word?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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What is religion? Faith and beliefs Parables - creative writing Does living biblically mean obeying the whole Bible? Does religion help people to be good? Expressing the spiritual through the arts in Islam |
Expectations Identity My Family Family factors The power of first impressions |
Term 2
How different are we really?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religious teachings about equality Religious attitudes towards racism Religious attitudes towards gender The role of men and women - Christianity and Islam Forgiveness and reconciliation Religion and Injustice Why do we celebrate Christmas? |
Who am I/ LGBT+ Bullying with particular focus on LGBTQ+ community Understanding the term ‘Transgender’ |
Term 3
Can the choices I make now influence my future?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Christianity and the use of money Christianity and charity Five Pillars of Islam Islam and charity (Zakah + Khums) comparison with Christianity |
Goals What money can’t buy Money and earnings Gambling |
Term 4
How can I become more responsible for my health and happiness?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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What is so radical about Jesus? |
Types of mental health Self harm Celebrities and mental health Dealing with emotions Causes of mental health and links to poverty |
Term 5
How do the terms ‘media’ and ‘relationships’ affect me?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Is death the end, does it matter? Islam and Christianity Non religious views about the afterlife, e.g. humanists and atheists |
Relationships with yourself Developing the relationship with yourself Puberty, changing bodies and genital changes Consent and FGM Upskirting Pros and cons to the media Being in control of social media |
Term 6
What factors can make an intimate relationship happy and healthy?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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RE links throughout the term |
What does it mean to be in love? Healthy vs unhealthy relationships Coercion in relationships Pornography and the dangers Unrealistic expectations on relationships, alcohol and related risks
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Year 9
In Year 9, students will study different types of relationships in more depth. They will learn more about mental health, and how difficulties with mental health can affect young people and those around them. They will have the opportunity to develop empathy and critical thinking skills.
Term 1
To what extent does the world I live in affect my identity?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Buddhism - What makes a person? Love thy neighbour |
Peer approval and County Lines Consent, assertiveness and saying “no” Exploitation Inappropriate images Reflection |
Term 2
What value does learning about sex education have in my life?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Sex, family and religion, LGBT focus |
Predatory behaviour Porn - is it real and the dangers of pornography Planning to have sex and contraception Contraception demonstration Consequences of unprotected sex and STIs |
Term 3
What value does learning about sex education have in my life?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Buddhism/ Dukkha Life of the Buddha |
Equality Act Discrimination Bullying and derogatory language Positive language and affirmation |
Term 4
How does social media affect our lives?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Amish and technology Buddhism - no bad actions, linked to online trolling |
Mental health and online media and low self-esteem Media manipulation Online risks including predators and online gaming |
Term 5
How can the use of substances affect our mind and body?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religious views on the use of drugs |
Legal drugs and substances Alcohol Illegal drugs including the law and classification How drugs affect the brain |
Term 6
What factors can affect our happiness and well-being?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Buddhism and refuge Buddhism and happiness - balance in life |
Effects of the body and mind Careers and personal happiness |
Year 10
In Year 10, students will look at equality in relationships and the workplace. As students begin their GCSE courses, they will focus on the impact of change and consider how they will manage the challenges ahead. In preparation for life beyond school, they will develop teamwork and communication skills.
Term 1
Is managing my online and offline world within my control?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Alternatives to the afterlife |
Liberty and safety Bereavement Social media Decision making Risks |
Term 2
What does equality mean in the UK?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religion, British society and equality |
Equality in the UK Equality in the workplace Challenging inequality |
Term 3
Is success only possible when physical and emotional needs are in balance?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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No religion and humanism |
What does it mean to be happy? What are the causes and effects of stress? How to manage stress? What does a healthy/ unhealthy relationship look like? Domestic worth |
Term 4
When it comes to health, to what extent am I in control?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religious beliefs entwined throughout - matters of life and death |
Finance and pregnancy Education and teen pregnancy Young dads Abortion Alternatives to abortion |
Term 5
Love is all you need?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religion, love and sex |
What makes a happy relationship? Parenting relationships Relationship breakdown Social influences on relationships, e.g. stereotypes, pornography, media, peer perception Friendships and peer support and connectedness Challenging relationships, e.g. DV, coercive relationships, exploitation |
Term 6
Can all changes be positive in some way?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religion and careers |
Changing society and me Managing change and decision making Careers skills Work experience week |
Year 11
Year 11 is a difficult year for all students and the Character Education curriculum takes this into account. Students will receive guidance in their choices for the next stage of their lives; they will have support to help them deal with examination stress and personal mental health and well being. There is also a focus on practical knowledge, such as finance and living independently.
Term 1
What does it mean to be an adult?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Becoming an adult Bar/Bat mitzvah |
Relationships and the law The law and you Me, the internet and the law Emergency situations |
Term 2
How can I maintain healthy intimate relationships?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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The existence of God debate |
Intimate romantic relationships Gender diversity and sexuality Power in relationships: who holds the cards? Honour-based violence, FGM, breast ironing and forced marriage |
Term 3
How can relationships, sex and sexual health be discussed more openly?
RE and CE content for term 3:
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religious views towards abortion |
Healthy attitudes on sexual relationships Abortion Infertility, IVF, surrogacy Breast, cervical, testicular cancer |
Term 4
What are the links between drugs and mental health?
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religious attitudes to drug abuse and mental health |
What are drugs? Legal status and classification of drugs Cannabis debate Issues surrounding social drugs Why do people choose drugs? |
Term 5
What are the issues surrounding crime and punishment?
RE and CE content for term 5:
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Religious Education |
Character Education |
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Religious attitudes to crime and punishment |
What causes crime and the different types The aims of punishment What is a young offender? Prison and capital punishment |
Summer examinations take place during term 6
Sixth Form
Year 12
Term 1
What skills do I need for my future?
Content for term 1:
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Employability skills Computer literacy skills Researching different jobs Apprenticeships Plagiarism Personal presentation CV writing skills Interview and presentation skills |
Term 2
How can I get ready for my future?
Content for term 2:
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DWP - Intro presentation CV writing DWP - Employer interview Religion and world views Class A drugs Class B drugs Class C drugs Free speech vs hate speech |
Term 3
What is a religious experience?
Content for term 3:
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What is religious experience? Mystical, miracles, non-empirical, visions Accounts of visions - visions of Mary, Isaiah’s vision, visions of Mary in Medjugorje Bosnia, the prophet Muhammad’s vision of the angel Cases against visions Conversion experiences Near death experiences Miracles Evidence against religious experiences Find personal account of religious experience and look at and speak about Find film of religious experience and watch and speak about, comparing the film to the account — ‘man of steel’ church scene, ‘Evan almighty’ ‘Bruce almighty’, ‘What dreams may come’ Religious experience impact on people Psychology of religion – ‘Sane or deluded’ Personal experiences or knowledge of others experiences? |
Term 4
What is death and the afterlife?
Content for term 4:
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Afterlife - what might it be like, how is it explained in every religion, nirvana, heaven, hell, purgatory, non- religious views of death and afterlife Ancient religions, Egyptian, Greek, Roman Evidence for reincarnation and near death experiences How can people communicate from the grave? Will people really ‘meet again’? Grief and the importance of coming to terms with a death. Relaxation Social justice Careers in core subjects- Maths Careers in core subjects- Science Careers in core subjects- English Work experience week - 27/03/2023 |
Term 5
How do my finances affect my future?
Content for term 5:
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Finance |
How can my actions affect my future?
Content for term 6:
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Critical thinking skills Cosmetic and plastic surgery Gender and identity Miscarriage and unplanned pregnancy Honour based violence Feminism Date rape ASE Careers interviews
Year 13Term 1Who is responsible for my future?
Content for term 1:
Term 2How can culture and my finances affect my future?
Content for term 2:
Term 3How is religion seen in the media?
Content for term 3:
Term 4Can misconceptions affect how we see sex?
Content for term 4:
How can I identify discrimination in the workplace?
RE and CE content for term 5: Discrimination in the workplace.
Summer examinations take place during term 6
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