Sex and Relationship Education
SEX AND RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION AT HARTFORD HIGH SCHOOL
A. PURPOSE:
Sex and relationship education contributes to promoting the spiritual, moral, cultural, emotional and physical development of pupils at school; preparing pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. It is about understanding the importance of marriage for family life, stable and loving relationships, respect, love and care. It is also about the teaching of sex, sexual orientation and sexual health.
It has 3 main elements:
1. Attitudes and values
- Learning the importance of values and individual conscience and moral considerations
- Learning the value of family life, marriage, and stable and loving relationships for the nurture of children
- Learning the value of respect, love and care
- Exploring considering and understanding moral dilemmas
- Developing critical thinking as part of decision – making.
2. Personal and social skills
- Learning to manage emotions and relationships confidently and sensitively
- Developing self respect and empathy for others
- Learning to make choices based on an understanding of difference and with an absence of prejudice
- Developing an appreciation of the consequences of choices made
- Managing conflict
- Learning how to recognize and avoid exploitation and abuse
3. Knowledge and understanding
- Having knowledge of the law on sexual behaviour
- Learning and understanding physical development at appropriate stages
- Understanding human sexual orientation, reproduction, sexual health, emotions and relationships
- Learning about contraception and the range of local and national sexual advice, contraception and support services
- Learning the reasons for delaying sexual activity, and the benefits to be gained from such delay
- Knowing how unplanned pregnancy can be avoided
- Knowing about sexually transmitted infections
B. Sex and relationships in the curriculum
Elements of sex and relationships education are delivered through Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship education, the National Curriculum Science course, Religious Education, assemblies, support from outside agencies, and incidentally through aspects of the curriculum.
C. Posts of responsibility:
Mr Duff: co-ordinator for PSHCE and Citizenship
Ms. Gaur: Head of Science
Mr D Woods Assistant Headteacher – Pupil Welfare
( a.n other ) School nurse
Connexions adviser.
Sex and Relationships Education is taught by school staff, members of the Health Service, colleagues from Connexions. Occasionally, visiting speakers or drama groups develop a particular element.
D. Consultation:
Staff, pupils, parents and a range of outside agencies were consulted about this policy and the content of the schemes of work.
E. Relationship to other policies:
Sex and relationship education forms an integral part of the curriculum policy, and the schemes of work for science. It also forms part of the school’s ‘safe-guarding children’ policies which include Child Protection and Anti - bullying.
F. Roles and responsibilities:
The Governing Body will:
- Ensure that sex education is provided in a way that encourages pupils to consider morals, the value of family life and the importance of marriage, includes education about HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases
- Seek the advice of the head teacher on this policy, keep it up to date and make it available to parents.
The Head Teacher will ensure that :
- The governing body is advised about the nature and organization of sex and relationships education and how it reflects the aims and values of the school
- Sex education is provided in a way that encourages pupils to consider morals, the value of family life, and the importance of marriage
- Pupils are protected from inappropriate teaching materials
- A scheme of work is agreed and implemented
- Parents are informed about the programme for sex and relationships education prior to each module being taught and their right to withdraw their child from that module. The exception to this is the module in the National Curriculum Science scheme in year 7 which covers the structure of the male and female reproductive systems, puberty and biological aspects of reproduction.
- Sex and relationships education is reviewed and evaluated annually in consultation with young people, staff, parents and outside agencies.
All staff are expected to:
- Provide sex and relationships education in accordance with this policy and in a way which encourages pupils to consider morals and the value of family life
- Participate in training to provide sex and relationships education in line with the school curriculum policy.
- Implement the agreed scheme of work
- Ensure that pupils who are absent for any aspect of sex and relationships education have an opportunity to access missed work by providing key notes and a time for discussion.
- Draw to the attention of the head teacher any materials which they consider to be inappropriate
- Respond appropriately to those pupils whose parents wish them to be withdrawn from sex education.
The co-ordinator for Sex and Relationship Education will:
- Ensure that schemes of work and resources are up to date, relevant and conform to a nationally accredited local programme (NHSS)
- Make available on request by parents, the schemes of work and the resources used within the curriculum.
The School Nurse, Health Service, Connexions will:
- Support pupils by providing information on accessing confidential sexual health advice, local and national sexual health advisory services.
G. Working with pupils, parents and the wider community.
- The delivery of sex and relationship education is not the sole responsibility of school. We aim to work effectively in partnership with parents, pupils and others in the wider community in determining, monitoring and evaluating the school policy.
H. Confidentiality Policy.
- Pupils, parents, carers and staff will be made aware of the school’s confidentiality policy
- Pupils will be informed of sources of confidential help, for example, the school nurse, Connexions adviser, G.P. local health services
- Teachers cannot guarantee pupils absolute, unconditional confidentiality.
- If confidentially has to be broken, pupils will be informed first, then supported appropriately.
- Pupils will be reassured that their best interests will be maintained.
- They will be encouraged to talk with their parents /carers and supported to do so.
- If there is any possibility of abuse, staff will follow the school’s child protection procedure
- Whilst teachers are not legally bound to inform parents of any disclosure of a sexual nature, only in the most exceptional circumstances will a member of staff handle such information without parental knowledge. This will only take place under the specific guidance of the child protection designated senior teacher, who will take advice from the LEA.
