A successful PSHEE afternoon with talks focussing on Substances

November 18th 2024

A successful PSHEE afternoon with talks focussing on Substances...

On Monday we had our whole School PSHEE Afternoon on Substances which was led by Zoe from IT Happens Education.

Zoe gave three talks all which were extremely relevant to the pupils. The 3^rd Form along with the Year 8 Hazlegrove pupils talk was centred around vaping, alcohol and harm reduction. The 4^th and 5^th Form talk was focused on parties and festivals looking at the risks and how to get help in difficult situations. Finally, the Sixth Form talk was about the Next Chapter so looking at the risks travelling and a topic that the Upper 6^th were concerned about drink spiking. All pupils had been invited to answer a survey beforehand so the talks were tailor made for the needs and requests of the pupils. Tutors all attended too as did our PSHEE Governor, Jean Walker, who really enjoyed the talks.

In the evening, Zoe gave a fantastic seminar to parents, and in addition to Zoe, parents had the opportunity to ask questions on substances to Amanda Benbow, Head of PSHEE at Hazlegrove and myself. Two Senior Prefects, Sebastian and Emily, also answered questions and they were superb at conveying a pupils point of view.

As a follow up to this, pupils joined with their twin House for this term (Blackford & Arion, Lyon & Priory, New & Wellesley) for a joint Tutor session on Wednesday afternoon. The themes were discussed and pupils feel that both talks have taught them a lot about drugs and substances.

Tutor feedback has been really positive:

'My tutor group liked the way it was factual and not patronising.'

'They learnt quite a lot and it was really pitched right especially about travel.'

'The pupils said it was the best talk they have ever had.'

A parent said the following:

'The topic is obviously on all our minds and such a minefield we will all navigate as parents. Zoe was fascinating to listen to and passed on great lessons, perspective and tools for us all.'

Emily Simper - Deputy Head Pastoral and Head of PSHEE