Why We Study Life Skills
Life Skills at Ramsden Hall Academy empowers our pupils with SEMH needs to navigate the complexities of adolescence and prepare confidently for their futures. Through our enriching and informative curriculum, we provide a breadth of opportunities for pupils to discuss uncertainties around growing up, develop essential life skills, and build the confidence needed to succeed in whatever they choose to do next.
Our therapeutic approach supports pupils to understand and manage their emotions, build healthy relationships, make safe and informed choices, and develop respect for themselves and others. We address real-world challenges our young people face from online safety and substance misuse to exploitation and mental health, whilst building their self-esteem, resilience and practical skills for independent living.
Life Skills is transformative for pupils with SEMH needs because it provides structured opportunities to develop self-awareness, emotional regulation and practical independence in a safe, supportive environment. Practical, relevant learning is particularly engaging for pupils who struggle with traditional academic approaches, building self-belief and demonstrating that learning can be accessible and rewarding.
Life Skills incorporates both Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Religious Education (RE), providing a holistic approach to personal development that prepares pupils for life in modern Britain.
Our Four Aims
1. Develop Emotional Literacy and Self-Regulation Understanding and managing their feelings and emotions effectively, recognising triggers, and developing strategies to support their mental health and wellbeing.
2. Build Healthy, Respectful Relationships Understanding different types of relationships, recognising appropriate boundaries, developing communication skills, and learning to demonstrate respect for diversity within our community.
3. Make Informed Decisions About Health, Safety and Risk Recognising when situations might be unsafe, understanding the consequences of choices, and developing strategies to keep themselves and others safe both online and offline.
4. Develop Practical Skills for Independent Living and Future Employment Including financial management, digital skills, customer service, leadership, and work readiness through programmes such as the King's Trust Achieve Programme.
How We Teach Life Skills
Curriculum Structure
Life Skills at Ramsden Hall is taught to all year 6 to 11 pupils. In years 9-11 pupils also receive a separate weekly careers lesson.
Year 6-8 (Ready to Learn pathway) pupils begin with foundational topics including friendships and diversity, promoting equality (including understanding different religions and worldviews), looking after themselves (hygiene, sleep, exercise, diet), first aid, British values and environmental awareness through a spiral curriculum that revisits and deepens understanding.
Year 9 focuses on online and social media safety, basic first aid, understanding abuse and grooming, drugs/alcohol/tobacco awareness, puberty and sex education, and managing relationships and mental wellbeing.
Year 10 develops employability skills through the King's Trust Achieve Programme including CV writing, applications, interviews, customer service and leadership, whilst covering financial skills (budgeting, payslips, financial services), digital skills (e-safety, digital footprint, workplace technology), and relationships and sex education.
Year 11 advances to complex safeguarding issues through the Risk Avert Programme (understanding risk, brain development, decision-making), exploitation and crime (county lines, gangs, knife crime, joint enterprise), hate crime and extremism (including religious prejudice and understanding different belief systems), and healthy relationships (consent, domestic abuse, conflict resolution, different family types).
Careers Education (Years 9-11) runs as a separate weekly lesson covering career exploration, job applications, CV and covering letter writing, interview preparation and practice, and work experience preparation through a comprehensive 30-week scheme of work.
Religious Education (RE) at Ramsden Hall Academy
How RE is Delivered
Religious Education is primarily delivered through our Life Skills curriculum, with additional cross-curricular support from other subjects including History, English, Animal Respect and Care, and Forest School.
Through Life Skills, pupils explore:
- Different religions and worldviews including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and non-religious worldviews such as Humanism
- Religious beliefs, practices and festivals that shape individual and community life
- Respect for diversity including understanding different religious and cultural backgrounds
- Moral and ethical questions about meaning, purpose, and how beliefs influence behaviour
- British Values including tolerance and respect for those with different faiths and beliefs
- Challenging stereotypes and prejudice including religious discrimination and hate crime
Cross-Curricular RE
RE themes are reinforced across our curriculum:
- History explores how religious beliefs have shaped historical events, crime and punishment, and social change
- English examines moral and ethical themes through literature
- Animal Respect and Care develops empathy and explores ethical questions about animal welfare
- Forest School supports spiritual development through connection with nature and reflection
Why RE Matters for Our Pupils
RE helps our pupils:
- Understand the diverse society they live in and prepare for life in modern Britain
- Develop respect and tolerance for people with different beliefs and backgrounds
- Explore questions about meaning, purpose and values in a safe, supportive environment
- Challenge stereotypes and prejudice
- Make informed decisions about their own beliefs and values
- Develop critical thinking skills through exploring different perspectives
Our approach to RE is sensitive to the needs of pupils with SEMH, using practical activities, discussion, storytelling, and real-world examples that connect to pupils' own experiences and questions.
Your Right to Withdraw Your Child from RE and RSE
Religious Education (RE)
Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child, wholly or partly, from Religious Education (RE) lessons given in the school. You do not have to give a reason for withdrawing your child from RE, however, we encourage you to discuss your decision with us so we can help you understand our RE curriculum and how it respects all personal beliefs.
Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)
Parents and carers have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some aspects of Sex Education (but not Relationships Education or Health Education, which are statutory).
If you wish to withdraw your child from any Sex Education lessons beyond the national curriculum for science, we will discuss your concerns with you and explore alternative arrangements.
How to Request Withdrawal
If you wish to withdraw your child from RE or Sex Education, please:
- Contact the Headteacher to arrange a meeting to discuss your request
- We will explain what your child will be taught and how it links to their learning and development
- We will discuss any alternative arrangements and supervision
- We will confirm the withdrawal in writing
We are committed to working with you to ensure your child's education meets their needs whilst respecting your rights and beliefs.
For more information or to discuss any concerns, please contact the school office on [insert contact details].
Teaching Approach
Our curriculum is sequenced to build knowledge and skills progressively whilst addressing pupils' varied starting points and potential gaps in learning. We begin each year with baseline assessments to understand pupils' starting points. Topics are revisited across year groups with increasing depth and complexity.
Multiple differentiation strategies address varied starting points: differentiated worksheets and visual supports, scaffolded practical activities with step-by-step guides, tiered tasks (confidence-building, secure, fluent), word mats and modelling, and flexible grouping with peer and adult support.
Our teaching approach reflects trauma-informed practice throughout. We use mixed and similar ability pair work, discussion activities, and Q&A sessions to build rapport and trust. We recognise that challenging behaviour may be a response to difficult emotions or past trauma. Pupils are given choices throughout their learning, maintaining their sense of agency and control.
Communication and Literacy Development
Life Skills explicitly develops literacy skills including: speaking and listening, reading comprehension, expanding vocabulary, note-making, writing in full sentences with correct spelling, punctuation and grammar, formal writing styles (letters, CVs, applications), and presenting information verbally and in writing.
Pupils learn extensive subject-specific vocabulary across all topics, including religious and philosophical terminology. We use discussion activities, Q&A sessions, and opportunities for speaking and listening in small groups and pairs. Resources are differentiated with three levels of challenge: Confidence Building (CB), Secure (S), and Fluent (F).
SMSC and British Values
The RHA Life Skills curriculum is mindful that RSE, Health Education and RE complement several national curriculum subjects. The content of Relationships, Sex and Health Education and Religious Education is supported by our anti-bullying policy, equality and diversity policy, safeguarding and child protection policy, behaviour policy, and online safety policy.
Life Skills lessons explore moral and ethical issues including consent, healthy relationships, substance misuse, exploitation, equality and diversity, and religious and philosophical questions about meaning, purpose and values. British Values are embedded through exploring democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, and tolerance through understanding diversity in families, communities, religions, worldviews and identities.
Curriculum Impact
Our progressive qualification pathway from foundational life skills knowledge to recognised qualifications including the King's Trust Achieve Programme (Level 1 and Level 2) ensures every pupil can achieve recognition for their progress.
Hands-on learning with relevant, practical content builds self-esteem and demonstrates that learning can be accessible and rewarding. Successfully completing practical tasks creates a sense of achievement and responsibility. Pupils progress from supported group work to independent decision-making and self-advocacy, with improved ability to express themselves, work collaboratively and communicate their needs.
Through RE, pupils develop:
- Understanding and respect for people with different beliefs and backgrounds
- Critical thinking skills through exploring different perspectives
- Confidence to discuss questions about beliefs, values and meaning
- Awareness of religious and cultural diversity in modern Britain
- Ability to challenge stereotypes and prejudice
Practical life skills including financial management, digital literacy, career preparation, relationship education, safety awareness and understanding of diverse communities prepare pupils for further education, training or employment. Recognised qualifications provide credentials that support progression to college courses, apprenticeships or employment, while transferable skills in communication, teamwork, problem-solving and self-management support success across all areas of life.
We measure impact through ongoing assessment (practical observation, questioning, discussion), portfolio evidence and practical demonstrations, qualification outcomes, pupil voice feedback, and work scrutiny reviewing progression in knowledge, skills and independence.
