EPC at De Lacy Academy is a five-year curriculum offer, tailored specifically to meet the needs of the school’s local context whilst at the same time equipping pupils with the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to play their full part in an ever changing world  of the 21st century.  Our programme includes the delivery of RE, RSE, PSHE, CEIAG and fundamental British Values, delivered through a combination of discrete timetabled lessons, our curriculum for life tutorial and assembly programme, plus a series of progressive “Step Up” days, as well as emphasising a  number of  cross curricular links across a wide range of subjects.

EPC at De Lacy Academy places social and personal development at the heart of its design, with group discussion, self-expression and the promotion of tolerance & respect towards the opinions of others assessed in each unit of work. Providing opportunities for pupils to develop confidence, resilience and knowledge to stay mentally and physically healthy are also included and developed in topics such as ‘Physical health and fitness’ and ‘Healthy relationships’.

At Key Stage 3, pupils explore an array of pertinent issues such as online and offline risks, including gangs, radicalisation and extremism through half-termly foci. The inappropriate use of mobile technology and social media is also reinforced through the ICT curriculum as well as being emphasised and revisited in our tutor time and assembly programme.

Religious Studies is also embedded throughout Key Stage 3, as pupils are able to explore the religions of Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism through the lens of a big question ‘What would a religious person do in this situation?’ in order to develop skills of reflection, respect and tolerance. Religious quotes are woven into schemes of learning such as Crime and Punishment and are interpreted alongside some religious practices and core beliefs, as referenced in the Wakefield locally agreed SACRE to allow pupils to engage in an enquiry-based approach to learning; appraising varied responses to key questions such as, ‘Why is there conflict?’, ‘What happens when we die?’, As well as allowing pupils to develop responses of their own.

With income deprivation and unemployment levels in the local area significantly above national averages, we are fully committed to ensuring that our EPC at De Lacy curriculum provides sufficient time to achieve all eight of The Gatsby Benchmarks, working alongside organisations such as The National Citizenship Service.  

A mixture of tutor time activities and progressive step up days provide opportunities for work experience, employer contact and enterprise education to allow the following targets to be met:

Our RSE curriculum provision gives due regard to the DfE’s statutory guidance on sex and relationship education as well as focussing in more detail on issues most relevant to pupils in our local context. Specific needs, as they arise are responded to and incorporated into our planning, plus curriculum content is once again ‘stepped’ to ensure that key issues are revisited in later years and in greater depth.  Where possible we also aim to bring in outside companies/agencies to deliver bespoke sessions to meet the specific needs of our pupils in Year 9 and Year 10.

The Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) development of our pupils has always been at the heart of the education offered in Delta Academies.   The Academy’s approach to SMSC is embedded in the Delta ethos of mutual respect, partnership working and collaboration; an approach that we believe is fundamental to a full and positive participation in life in modern Britain.

Broad PSHE themes are allocated throughout each academic year and revisited so that they can be reinforced and developed over the years:

Examples of how fundamental British Values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs are actively promoted across the Academy and include: