Being Happy and Taking Responsibility for our Actions

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infoWhy this? Distinguishing lasting wellbeing from constant happiness, and developing emotional agility, self-compassion, self-worth, presence, and stress awareness, helps us respond constructively to difficulty. Understanding misinformation, accountability, substance-related risks, valid consent, sexual harm, and safe disclosure equips us to make responsible choices, support others without blame, and seek appropriate help.

scheduleWhy now? As the final Year 9 unit, this brings together earlier learning about emotions, resilience, physical health, media literacy, relationships, consent, and safety. It deepens these ideas before Key Stage 4, when increasing independence and more complex situations make sound judgement, accountability, and confident help-seeking especially important.

Wellbeing does not mean feeling happy all the time.
All emotions can be useful signals about needs, experiences, or situations, even when they are uncomfortable.
Longer-term wellbeing is supported by secure relationships, purposeful activity, physical health, self-compassion, and seeking help when needed.
Self-compassion means treating oneself with kindness and understanding, especially during difficulties, setbacks, or mistakes.
Resilience is the ability to adapt and recover after difficulties, setbacks, or change.
Emotional agility is the ability to recognise and manage emotions thoughtfully.
Emotional agility is particularly important when experiencing strong emotions.
Self-worth is a person's belief that they have value.
Self-esteem relates to how a person evaluates their qualities and abilities.
A balanced diet includes a suitable variety of foods and nutrients.
Diet and eating habits can affect physical health, mental health, and general wellbeing.
Being present means focusing attention on what is happening now.
Distractions can affect focus, relationships, and wellbeing.
Stress is the body and mind's response to pressure or challenging situations.
A stressor is something that causes a stress response.
Fake news is false or misleading information presented as news.
Misinformation is inaccurate information shared without necessarily intending to cause harm.
Disinformation is deliberately created or shared to deceive people.
Gratitude involves recognising and appreciating positive people, actions, and experiences.
Gratitude can be expressed privately or shared through words, actions, and reflection.
Expressing appreciation can create positive emotions and support wellbeing.
Taking ownership means accepting responsibility for actions, choices, and their consequences.
Accountability involves being willing to explain and take responsibility for behaviour.
Drugs and alcohol can create immediate and long-term risks.
Substance use can affect physical health, mental health, behaviour, and decision-making.
Sexual violence and sexual abuse involve sexual acts or behaviour without valid consent.
Sexual harassment involves unwanted sexual behaviour that causes distress, intimidation, humiliation, or offence.
Valid consent is an informed, clear, and ongoing agreement made by choice when a person has the freedom and capacity to choose.
Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
In England and Wales, the legal age of consent to sexual activity is 16, and a child under 13 can never legally consent to sexual activity.
A person who is asleep or unconscious cannot consent, and intoxication removes capacity when it prevents the person from making or communicating a free choice.
Being in a relationship, having consented previously, wearing particular clothing, remaining silent, or not resisting does not establish consent.
Responsibility for sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual violence always lies with the person who commits it, never the person targeted.

rocket_launchYou must be able to

Identify situations in which emotional agility is needed.
Recognise and name emotions in challenging situations.
Define self-worth and self-esteem.
Explain the difference between self-worth and self-esteem.
Discuss their current diet and eating habits using respectful, non-judgemental language.
Compare eating habits with dietary recommendations.
Explain why it is important to focus on the present moment.
Identify the effects of distraction and not being fully present.
Identify common causes of stress.
Recognise their own stressors and signs of stress.
Define fake news, misinformation, and disinformation.
Explain the difference between misinformation and disinformation.
Explain how fake news can affect individuals and society.
Explain why taking responsibility is important.
Identify the choices and consequences within a situation.
Identify risks associated with drug and alcohol use.
Describe possible long-term effects of substance use.
Define sexual violence, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and consent.
Explain what constitutes valid consent and why it is important.
Apply the age and capacity rules for consent in England and Wales to scenarios involving people under 16, sleep, unconsciousness, or intoxication.
Explain why relationships, previous consent, clothing, silence, or lack of resistance do not establish consent.
Recognise that consent cannot be gained through pressure, threats, or manipulation.
Respond safely to an incident or disclosure of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, or sexual violence by prioritising immediate safety, listening without blame, and avoiding confrontation or investigation.
Preserve privacy after a disclosure by not promising secrecy or sharing details widely, while passing information only to trusted adults, safeguarding professionals, or support services that need it.
Contact a trusted adult after an incident or disclosure, access a specialist service such as Childline for further support, and call 999 if someone is in immediate danger.

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