‘Social, Personal and Health Education, as part of the curriculum, supports the personal development, health and well-being of young people and helps them create and maintain supportive relationships’   (www.sphe.ie)

Statement of Learning

The key concept or Statement of Learning (SOL) which is addressed in SPHE include:

The student takes action to safeguard and promote her/ his wellbeing and that of others. SOL 11

 Key Skills

S.P.H.E. provides students with a unique opportunity to develop the skills and competence to learn about themselves, to care for themselves and others, and to make informed decisions about their health, personal lives and social development.

Communicating: Listening and expressing myself. Students solve problems and negotiate solutions respectfully with fellow students in a range of activities.

Managing information and thinking: Gathering, recording, organising and evaluating information:

 Managing myself: Setting and achieving personal goals. Students devise and undertake plans to achieve personal or group goals. They reflect on their progress and learning and make the necessary adjustments to their goals.

Staying well, being healthy:  Students learn to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing.

Working with others, co-operating.  Students engage in a number of peer and group tasks which require cooperation to achieve common and challenging goals.

Methodologies

Learning through and from experience

Active learning methodologies are used in many learning situations, including Group discussion, brainstorming, project work, relaxation and meditation, Multi-media / video, Guest speakers and Visitors

Course Content

S.P.H.E. is a compulsory class that must be taken by all 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students. All Junior Certificate students are allocated one class period per week for S.P.H.E.

The curriculum for S.P.H.E. is presented in ten modules, each of which appears in each year of the programme. The emphasis will be based on building skills, understanding attitudes and values important to these areas.

The ten modules are:-

• Belonging and Integrating
• Self –Management
• Communication Skills
• Physical Health
• Friendship
• Relationships and Sexuality
• Emotional Health
• Influences and Decisions
• Substance Use
• Personal Safety

 Assessment for Learning

SPHE is not formally examined in the Junior Certificate examination but will be assessed using a record of the work of the SPHE class in a journal or folder. As part of the Junior Cycle programme, SPHE should be given the same status as other subject areas in the written school report. Students may be invited to engage in an end-of year reflective exercise and through specific tasks, homework, or project work.