Health Education

As Year 7 marks a transition into adolescence and the Senior School, Health Education at this level plays a key role in assisting girls to cope with the many and varied changes which they will experience. The curriculum enhances resilience though the promotion of communication, participation, positive self-regard, team work and a sense of belonging and connectedness to school. Staffed by Year 7 Form Teachers, the course utilises games, role play, class discussions and other activity-based exercises so that students develop an understanding of the changes in themselves, in the expectations of them as students in the Senior School and in their friendships. Students are encouraged to learn effective communication skills and to take responsibility for their own behaviour and decisions which affect their own well-being and that of others.

As girls move through the Senior School, the Health Education course continues the work undertaken in previous years, and includes communication, an awareness of harm minimisation and value clarification. Issues relating to smoking, alcohol and other illicit drugs are examined with the underlying focus on further developing skills such as awareness of different values, personal decision making, assertiveness, caring for oneself and others. Women’s health issues, body image self esteem are also covered. Learning styles, studying and exam techniques, goal setting, work experience, expectations and occupation health and safety aspects are also part of the course.