I AM

I AM The Way, The Truth, The Light.

The PSHE curriculum at St Thomas More Catholic High School is collectively known as “I AM”.

The programme name was carefully chosen to more accurately reflect the programme we offer and the Gospel values we want our school community to aspire to.

All year groups from Year 7 to 11 are provided with one hour a fortnight of I AM lessons.  Lessons are supplemented by our Form Tutor programme (collectively known as Building the Kingdom), assemblies and collective acts of worship.

There are seven common themes of I AM delivered across the year groups, these are inspired by the school’s dedication to Catholic Social Teaching:

Common good:  Also linked with dignity of the human person this links to ideas with physical and mental wellbeing.

Option for the poor and vulnerable: This includes topics on bullying, relationships, and any links with charities.

Dignity of the human person: This includes educating our pupils on equality, issues with prejudice and other global and community issues.

Dignity of work and education: This is the careers links in the curriculum covered in all year groups looking at things from soft skills to CV writing.

Solidarity: This includes lessons on global citizenship, British values etc.

Care for God’s creation: This includes lessons linked to the environment and looking after the earth.

Family and Community: This includes our Relationship and Sex education programme.

The school delivers statutory Relationships, Sex & Health Education (RSHE), via I AM. These are delivered via a Catholic Social Teaching programme called ‘Ten Ten’.  All resources for these lessons are accessed via the Ten Ten website: LTTF Subscriber Home (tentenresources.co.uk)

eSafety – is also delivered as part of the IT curriculum through the Technology department.

The specific content of the I AM programme is constantly under review, as it should be given the constantly changing environment our pupils live in.  It is not enough to simply teach pupils about the issues covered in the suggested subject content.  It is vital they have the opportunity to explore their attitudes, values and beliefs about them and to develop the skills, language and strategies necessary to manage these issues should they encounter them in their lives.  As a consequence, lessons encompass dedicated time for pupils to share, discuss and challenge, where necessary, their viewpoints.

If you have any questions about the I AM programme, please contact Mrs Davenhill-Lyon at the school who will be happy to help.

KS3 Curriculum Map

KS4 Curriculum Map