At Bessemer, we follow Southwark's PSHE and Wellbeing Curriculum Framework for Primary Schools to support the delivery of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education. Our curriculum is built around three key themes: Health and Wellbeing, Relationships, and Living in the Wider World — all of which are developed progressively each year.

In addition to these core areas, we place a strong emphasis on Online Safety, gender equality through Lifting Limits, and annual whole-school events such as Children in Need and Children’s Mental Health Week. Our aim is to equip every child with the knowledge, skills and values they need to thrive both in and beyond the classroom.

PSHE at Bessemer

OUR PSHE CURRICULUM

At Bessemer Primary School, we are committed to delivering a diverse and engaging PSHE curriculum that nurtures confident, ambitious, and forward-thinking members of our community. Through carefully planned and creatively delivered lessons, children gain the knowledge, skills, and values essential to their personal development and wellbeing.

Our curriculum promotes progression across the three core themes of PSHE:

Core Theme 1: Health and Wellbeing
This theme supports children in understanding how to lead physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy lives. It covers key areas such as healthy lifestyles, managing change (like puberty), emotional resilience, and staying safe. Children also learn how to make informed decisions and where to seek help when needed.

Core Theme 2: Relationships
Focusing on building positive, respectful relationships, this theme helps children develop emotional literacy, recognise healthy and unhealthy interactions, and understand diversity in families and friendships. It includes learning about empathy, consent, online safety, and how to seek support if relationships become challenging or unsafe.

Core Theme 3: Living in the Wider World
This theme prepares children to be active, responsible citizens in a diverse society. It explores topics such as rights and responsibilities, economic wellbeing, respecting the environment, and valuing diversity. Pupils also learn about money management, community participation, and what it means to be part of a global world.

ONLINE SAFETY

At Bessemer, we recognise that Online Safety is more important than ever in helping children navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. While key elements are taught through our computing curriculum, Online Safety is also a regular feature within PSHE lessons — with a particular focus on the social and emotional aspects of being online.

Each year group has age-appropriate objectives that are taught and revisited throughout the year. These objectives build progressively from one year to the next, helping children develop the understanding, confidence, and critical thinking needed to stay safe and respectful in online environments.

LIFTING LIMITS

As part of our commitment to equality and inclusion, Bessemer incorporates the Lifting Limits programme into the PSHE curriculum to promote gender equality and challenge stereotypes.

Lifting Limits lessons are taught half-termly and encourage children to explore and question gender sterotypes through practical, engaging activities. While these lessons are a key part of our PSHE provision, the principles of gender equality are also embedded throughout the wider school curriculum and culture, ensuring a consistent and whole-school approach.

CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

Children across the school took part in wellbeing activities this week as part of mental health week. The theme this year was Let's Connect. In our school assembly and classes, we explored how simple activities such as yoga, colouring, reading, an act of kindness, inclusivity, listening to music, exercise and socialising have a positive effect on your mood and wellbeing. At the end of the week, children were able to express themselves through clothing choices. We raised over £150 which was donated to a mental health charity.

BBC CHILDREN IN NEED

Bessemer participated in this special yearly event by joining the BBC Moodboosters  activity. Children joined in with a series of interactive, dynamic and imaginative activities to have fun and boost their moods. Children were able to come to school wearing spots and/or stripes and were raised money for children in need.