RSE (Relationship & Sex Education) is compulsory in secondary schools. The Secretary Of State has described how “Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.”

Relationships & Sex Education is age-appropriate delivered from Year 7 – Year 13 at UVHS, and is split into 5 sections:

• Families
• Respectful Relationships Including Friendships
• Online & Media
• Being Safe
• Intimate & Sexual Relationships, Including Sexual Health

Curriculum Construction:

Our curriculum for KS3 and KS4 RSE has been devised using Brook Learn, The Sex Education Forum, The PSHE Association and external health bodies such as The NHS and CoppaFeel! (Information for KS5 can be found out from the 6^th Form Team.) Brook is the only national charity to offer both clinical sexual health services, as well as education and wellbeing for young people and training and support for educators. The Sex Education Forum works with schools to provide transparent materials which are accessible to all students including those with SEND needs.

Our program of study allows for staff to deliver a carefully devised curriculum in a safe space whilst allowing for necessary discussion and consolidation activities to do with any of the 5 topics listed above.

RSE content is delivered throughout Personal Development and can be identified on the KS3-KS4 Learning Journeys at the green bullet points for Relationships

Please note, not all aspects of Relationships overlap into statutory RSE.

You are also welcome to view our combing chart of where statutory RSE content is delivered across KS3 and KS4 here: UVHS Statutory RSE Guidance Combing 2024 Onwards PDF

Why is RSE so important?

The Sex Education Forum describes RSE as: “Relationships and sex education (RSE) is learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health. It should equip children and young people with the information, skills and positive values to have safe, fulfilling relationships, to enjoy their sexuality and to take responsibility for their sexual health and well-being.”

It is important to us as a school that we safeguard our pupils in relation to topics such as consent and coercion. They need to have clear, factual information about the law relating to, for example, rights to access sexual health services, having images and content removed online and alcohol and drugs etc in line with Keeping Children Safe In Education.

There will always be an overlap between RSE and other subjects in school. For example, students in Science will also learn about sexually transmitted infections and their prevention using different methods of contraception. However, thy will also have time to consolidate that learning in their Personal Development time in a smaller class setting.

If we look back to previous generations, we can be critical of what wasn’t taught or discussed, and RSE education has developed beyond recognition since first considered in schools in the 1960’s / 1970’s; and we have a duty of care to ensure we keep abreast of new and emerging threats to student health and wellbeing.

Ultimately, our aim at Ulverston Victoria High School is to have an RSE curriculum which allows students to safely ask questions and discuss topics relevant to them as young adults in an environment free of negativity and taboo.