Convince me you're right - I recently taught my last PSHE lesson to a year 11 class with whom I've really enjoyed working over the last few years. Like many PSHE lessons, it didn't follow the original plan. The lesson was on Child Sexual Exploitation and we came to a question as to whether or not it was ever the victim's fault. This was a deliberate part of the plan as this is often something the boys in the school struggle with. A number of them thought that it was sometimes the victims fault but rather than just tell them they were wrong, or quickly moving on, I gave them the space and respect to listen to their reasons and truly delve into them and get them to question themselves and each other. I told them they had the opportunity to convince the world they were right, getting them to really consider their arguments.

For example one pupil said that it was the victim's fault if they had consumed drugs and alcohol because this is against the law, I asked if someone had driven over the speed limit or stolen a chocolate bar from the shop if the same would apply? We discussed retribution and whether it was your fault if someone was seeking revenge for the same crime and considered the law versus individual feelings? I demonstrated healthy communication by actively listening and sometimes respectfully disagreeing. We were able to consider how our own world view and experiences might influence our opinions.

For me although the topic was not a happy one, it was important and being able to see the skills of PSHE be demonstrated by these pupils so amazingly well once again highlighted the importance of PSHE in today's world.