Society & Relationships
Society and Relationships at Harris Academy Battersea
At Harris Academy Battersea (HABS), we place Society and Relationships at the heart of our Personal Development curriculum. We know that children do their best when they feel confident in who they are, understand others, and know how to build positive, respectful relationships. Our programme supports students to grow into thoughtful, kind, and responsible young people who are well prepared for life beyond school.
Through a carefully planned journey from Year 7 to Year 13, students explore how relationships are formed, how society works, and how the choices they make can affect both their own wellbeing and the wider world.
Building Healthy and Respectful Relationships
From the moment students join us in Year 7, we help them develop the skills they need to form strong, healthy relationships. Students learn how to build friendships, communicate clearly and respectfully, understand boundaries and consent, manage peer pressure, and resolve disagreements in a positive way.
As they get older, learning naturally develops to include topics such as romantic relationships, sexual health, contraception, and understanding consent within the law. All teaching is age-appropriate, inclusive, and delivered with care and sensitivity. Throughout the school, there is a strong focus on self-worth and respect, helping students feel confident in themselves while appreciating and valuing difference in others.
Identity, Equality and Belonging
Helping students understand who they are and where they belong is central to our work. Through lessons and discussion, students explore identity in all its forms, including culture, faith, gender, sexuality, and background. They learn about equality, human rights, and the importance of treating everyone fairly.
Students are encouraged to challenge stereotypes and discrimination and to develop empathy, kindness, and courage. This helps them to become young people who stand up for others and contribute positively to their communities.
Understanding Society and the Wider World
Our Personal Development curriculum also helps students understand how society functions and how they can play an active role within it. Students learn about democracy, British values, the law, and the justice system, alongside important topics such as online behaviour, media influence, and personal responsibility.
We also explore challenging but important issues, including extremism, hate crime, and exploitation, so that students understand risk, know how to stay safe, and feel confident seeking help when needed.
Relationships in a Digital World
We recognise that much of young people’s social lives now take place online. Students are taught how to build healthy relationships in digital spaces, understand social media pressures, manage self-image, and stay safe online. Topics such as grooming, online consent, sexting, and digital footprints are covered carefully and appropriately, helping students make informed and responsible choices.
Voice, Participation and Community
At HABS, relationships extend beyond the classroom. Through Student Voice, enrichment activities, trips, and leadership opportunities, students are encouraged to share their views, listen to others, and take an active role in school life. These experiences help students understand that strong communities are built on respect, cooperation, and shared responsibility.
Encouraging Discussion and Critical Thinking
Across the personal development curriculum, pupils are regularly given structured opportunities to discuss, debate, and reflect on current affairs and contemporary social issues, ensuring PSRSE learning is active rather than passive. Lessons frequently incorporate thought-provoking questions such as “Will climate change affect children’s rights?”, “Do we celebrate differences enough?” and “Should all children receive free school meals?”.
Through these discussions, pupils are encouraged to think deeply, challenge assumptions, consider multiple perspectives, and articulate their views respectfully. This approach strengthens pupils’ understanding of complex societal issues while developing oracy, empathy, and critical thinking skills. It also supports pupils to engage meaningfully with themes of equality, justice, rights, and responsibility, preparing them to participate confidently and responsibly in democratic society.
Preparing Students for Life Beyond School
By the time students leave Harris Academy Battersea, they are well equipped to manage relationships and social challenges with maturity and confidence. They understand how to build healthy connections, make responsible decisions, and contribute positively to society.
Our Personal Development curriculum ensures that students leave not only academically prepared, but also socially aware, emotionally confident, and ready to thrive in a diverse and changing world.