Preparing students to be healthy and happy, whilst also being informed and active citizens.

STEPS is a compulsory subject from years 7-11, which aims to prepare students to live as a happy, healthy and informed citizen of the UK and the wider world. Through exploring the strands of Sociology, Theology, Ethics, Politics and Social Studies (PSHE), the curriculum teaches students how to keep themselves safe and promotes the British Values of tolerance, rule of law, democracy, mutual respect and individual liberty. STEPS complements the LLL programme and ensures that our students cover the statutory PSHE content (2020) in sufficient depth, with greater opportunities for reading, extended writing and discussion. The religious and ethical elements of STEPS aim to promote the spiritual, moral and cultural development of our students.

Year 7 Curriculum

Term 1: Transition

• Right Way and British Values
• Bullying: how to treat each other; different types of bullying; responding to bullying.

Are all religions the same?

• Creation of the world
• Tawhid and Holy Trinity
• 10 Commandments and 5 Pillars of Islam
• Jesus: his birth, teachings and death
• Prophet Muhammad
• Are all religions the same?

Term 2: Being Healthy

• Looking after our bodies
• Antibiotics and vaccines
• Puberty and hygiene
• Mental health and emotions
• Safety: roads, online.
• Healthy relationships

Term 3: Who Am I?

• Who am I?
• Where do I come from?
• What do I believe?
• What do I look like?
• How do I look after myself?
• Are we all the same?

Year 8 Curriculum

Term 1: Is all life equal?

• Equality
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Prejudice and discrimination: racism, misogyny, homophobia, religious prejudice.
• Value of animal life

Government and Politics

• Democracy and dictatorship
• Elections,  leaders and how government works
• Political parties and pressure groups
• Voting rights

Term 2: Is anyone born evil?

• Evil and suffering
• Nature vs nurture
• How do atheists explain suffering?
• How do religions explain suffering?
• Capital punishment

Term 3: Life after Death

• Life after death
• Dualism
• What do Christians believe happens when we die?
• What do Muslims believe happens when we die?
• What do Sikhs, Hindus and Buddhists believe?
• What do atheists believe?

Year 9 Curriculum

Term 1: Looking after yourself

• Healthy families and friendships
• Consent
• Peer on peer abuse and harmful sexual behaviour
• Grooming and gangs
• Drugs and alcohol

Does God exist?

• How was the world created? Big Bang theory, cosmological theory, design theory.
• Does the existence of evil disprove God?
• Do miracles and religious experiences prove God?

Term 2: Does religion make you a good person?

• Morality: where do rules come from?
• Religion and morality
• Case study: abortion and morality
•  Situation ethics, virtue ethics and utilitarianism

Term 3: Future in focus

• What does it mean to be an adult?
• Spending habits and tax
• Success, dreams and goals; overcoming roadblocks

Social pressures and mental health

• Radicalisation
• Consequences of sexting
• Impacts of social media
• Mental health and emotions

Year 10 Curriculum

Term 1: Relationships and the Law

• Healthy vs unhealthy relationships
• Grooming and exploitation
• Sexual harassment and revenge porn
• Rape
• Arranged vs forced marriage
• Honour-based violence
• Human trafficking
• Hate crime

Term 2: Money Management

• Cost of living
• Budgeting your spending
• Different types of bank account
• Buying vs renting
• Credit scores
• Gambling

Term 3: Wider World

• How do we punish people in the UK?
• Is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights upheld around the world?
• Why is Pride so important?
• What are refugees?
• Why has there been a migrant crisis in Europe in recent years?

Year 11 Curriculum (2023-24 only)

Term 1: Next STEPS

• Exam Stress
• College Applications
• Interviews

Term 1: Relationships and the Law

• Healthy vs unhealthy relationships
• Grooming and exploitation
• Sexual harassment and revenge porn
• Rape
• Arranged vs forced marriage
• Honour-based violence
• Human trafficking
• Hate crime

Term 2: Money Management

Term 2: Money Management

• Cost of living
• Budgeting your spending
• Different types of bank account
• Buying vs renting
• Credit scores
• Gambling