Critchill Code

The Critchill Code Curriculum - A School-Wide Approach to Positive Behaviour Support

“We teach more by what we are than by what we teach.”

Will Durant (1885-1981) American Historian

At Critchill School, we have developed ‘The Critchill Code’, which is centred on a ‘School wide positive behaviour support model’ (SW-PBSM). This approach is an effective, efficient and consistent method for implementing ‘The Critchill Code’ and provides a consistent school-wide approach for all stakeholders.

The ‘Critchill Code’ ensures our school:

• Is a safe, caring and inclusive environment free from bullying, harassment, intimidation and discrimination

• Is built on positive, respectful and supportive relationships

• Recognises, acknowledges and celebrates efforts and accomplishments

• Places a high regard on student & staff well-being

• Nurtures belonging and connectedness

• Promotes and celebrates equity, equality and diversity

• Has clear expectations and consequences that are appropriately personalised to a pupil’s development/ age 

Principles of ‘The Critchill Code’

• Creating a safe and caring school is a process, which requires ongoing support, direction and attention from all stakeholders.

• All members of the school community are responsible for the positive culture of the school. Student, teacher, parent and community engagement must be encouraged, nurtured and expected.

• The school community consists of students, parents/guardians, volunteers, teachers, and other adults who are in contact with students and school staff, in any school setting or school related activity.

• The positive nature of relationships within the school community, and the consistent, inclusive and nurturing nature of the school permit students to build healthy relationships, to create a strong and supportive social network, to develop emotional well-being and to achieve to the best of their ability.

• Fair and consistently implemented policies contribute to positive learning environments and reduce bullying, harassment, intimidation and discrimination.

• Positive social behaviours must be taught, modelled and reinforced throughout the curriculum and embedded in all aspects of school life.

• Inter-agency collaboration and community partnerships are essential components of building and maintaining a safe, caring and inclusive school environment.

The ‘Critchill Code’ encompasses three statements:

• Be Kind

• Be Safe

• Be Resilient 

Staff are also encouraged to use ‘Code’ lessons to respond to events within school and the wider world & to celebrate and recognise achievement against the three code statements.   Pupils can ‘articulate’ the Code, what it means for them and understand how it will support them towards their Preparation for adulthood.

The Rationale

At Critchill School our PSHE curriculum is embedded into and taught through ‘The Critchill Code.’

This is because our students know ‘The Code’ really well and this is familiar to them.

Intent

The PSHE curriculum at Critchill School runs from EYFS through to KS5. It is progressive and allows students to develop their skills in all areas of the preparation for adulthood agenda and in line with a broad and balanced PSHE curriculum.  We believe that community involvement, good health, independence and employment are key to a happier, more fulfilled life. Our curriculum is designed to prepare our students for adulthood and ensure that they leave fully equipped to be positive and contributing members of their local community.

PSHE provides plentiful opportunities to explore opinions, encourage openness within discussion and ensure that both knowledge and skills based learning contributes to the personal development of each individual. The range of aims and activities covered also help our pupils to appreciate the diverse communities in which we live contributing to their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. 

We offer a broad curriculum that empowers pupils to make positive decisions about their own health and well-being, encourages them to develop skills and knowledge in a range of areas &, know how to seek support. In essence, the curriculum aims to promote positive physical, mental and emotional well-being, which is fundamental in the lives of our pupils both now and as they grow and mature.

Implementation:

At Critchill School we deliver the statutory Relationships Education (Primary), Relationships and Sex Education (Secondary) and Health Education (all) curriculum and non-statutory PSHE guidance for all pupils as part of our ‘Critchill Code’ Lessons

Topics are taught discretely during weekly ‘Critchill Code’ lessons. We have a whole school focused Critchill Code Day at the onset of each half term, where key themes and content are introduced. Each half term will have a ‘Critchill Code’ focus which will be school wide.

The Critchill Code curriculum is annually reviewed to quality assure both content and delivery.

In addition to this, at Critchill School the Critchill Code is embedded into our ‘Aspirational curriculum’ and can be found within:

• Individual pupil’s PLIMs.

• Thematic and Core Lessons 

• PE/ Swimming/ hydro - healthy living, physical activity, healthy lifestyle, exercise 

• Maths

• English 

• Computing

• Preparation for Adulthood 

• Understanding risks, and making safe and informed decisions  

• Healthy relationships 

• Family and friends

• Respectful relationships 

• Sessions in ‘The Den’

• Daily Collective worship sessions

• Awards such as The Duke of Edinburgh Award and the Arts Award

• Projects such as ‘Mini Police’ and ‘Jackdaws’

• Community inclusion sessions

• Forest School sessions

• Enrichment Activities

• Music events with Jack Daws

• Colour Scape

• Make the Sunshine

• Glebe House Swimming

• Live Music Now Project

• Rangers

• Physical Enrichment activities such as WOLT Days and Bouldering

Relationships and Sex Education

At our Critchill School, we believe that pupils should understand the facts about human reproduction before they leave school. Sex education ‘should ensure that both boys and girls are prepared for the changes that adolescence brings (puberty) and – drawing on knowledge of the human life cycle set out in the national curriculum for science - how a baby is conceived and born’.

At our school, puberty is taught as a statutory requirement of Health Education and covered by our PSHE Curriculum. 

We recognise that quality RE, RSE & HE education is an integral part of preparation for adulthood. 

“Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory Relationships and Sex Education” DfE Guidance p.6

We conclude that sex education refers to Human Reproduction, and therefore inform parents of their right to request their child be withdrawn from the PSHE lessons that explicitly teach this. 

Impact

Critchill School pupils will;

• Follow an appropriate pathway to adulthood and develop the skills necessary for this including; employment, independent living, good health, and friends, family and community.

• Be encouraged to have a voice within society

• Value the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle to both their physical and mental wellbeing. 

• Be an active part of their community

• Have an understanding of safety and keeping themselves safe.  

• Know how and where to seek support

Their progression will be evident in both their personalised PLI evidence and Critchill Code workbooks. All students will develop their understanding of being safe, being kind and being resilient, from their individual starting points.