Dear Parents/Carers,
Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), along with Health Education, now forms part of the National Curriculum. In July 2021, we provided you with our RSE policy and were grateful for the support that came from our school community.
The purpose of the RSE curriculum is to provide knowledge and understanding of safe and healthy relationships based on respect. This is to encourage the development of safe and healthy relationships throughout life. The subject is designed to help children from all backgrounds build positive and safe relationships, and to thrive in modern Britain.
In Modules 5 and 6, your child will receive lessons on relationships and sexual health. We realise that due to COVID, some learning time has been lost and students will need to revisit some of the topics that they would have covered in Years 8 and 9. All staff have received comprehensive training from the Sex Education Forum and all resources will be bespoke for the students and the age ranges in our community.
The following topics will be covered as part of these lessons:
- Understanding anatomy
- Puberty
- Respectful intimate relationships
- Contraception
- STD/Pregnancy
- Consent
- Safe behaviour online
- Good sexual health
Parents/careers have the right to withdraw your child from sex education delivered as part of RSE in secondary schools which, unless there are exceptional circumstances, will be granted up to three terms before your child turns 16 (the legal age of consent). At this point, if your child wishes to receive sex education rather than be withdrawn, the school will make arrangements for this to happen. Please see the attached information from the DFE outlining why this education is important for your child.
If you wish to withdraw your child from Sex Education, please use this form by Thursday 24th February and you will be contacted to discuss your decisions further.
There is no right to withdraw from Relationships Education at secondary level and we believe the content of these subjects – such as family, friendship, safety (including online safety) – are important for all children to be taught. We are confident you will share our enthusiasm for the successful implementation of the new PSHE curriculum, which we feel will benefit all of our students.
Yours sincerely,
Ms Sophie Dickinson
Assistant Principal
