1. Tuesday 10th October 2017 6pm Welcome
This evening we will be considering the Relationship and Sex (RSE) Education Curriculum here at Sacred Heart, Leigh.

2. RSE or SRE?
Being a Catholic school we are asked by the Archbishop to teach a RSE curriculum ie Relationship and Sex Education Curriculum. By the time the children leave primary education the Archbishop wants the children to realise that sex is an act that comes after a loving relationship between two individuals.

3. Why is RSE so important?
Back in October 1965 Pope Paul VI in his famous writing Gravissimum Educationis stated that children should be given a ‘positive and prudent sexual education.’ Our current Pope, Pope Francis produced a piece of writing in 2016 Amoris Laetitia – The Joy of Love reiterating what Pope Paul had said over 50 years ago. This led to a document ‘Learning to Love’ written by the Bishops of England and Wales. Archbishop Malcolm sent a letter into school in March 2017 he hoped this would help us in education children about healthy and loving relationships.

4. Who is the guidance for? Governing Bodies Headteachers and SLT
Staff responsible for teaching RSE, RE, Science, PSHE
Diocesan education departments
Local Authorities
School nurses and other health professionals who may make a contribution to the delivery of RSE in a school.

5. Parents as first educators
The church has always recognised that parents are the first educators of their children and that Catholic schools exist in order to help parents in this task. The Church’s emphasis that parents are the first teachers of their children recognises that parents will welcome help to teach their children about love, relationships and sexuality.

6. Why does RSE matter?
Our children learn about relationship and sex from a young age even if we do not talk to them about it. Some of the things they learn could be incorrect, confusing, even frightening. In a world were sex is used to sell things from food to fast cars we need to talk to our children to make sense of it all.
In the UK we have the highest rates of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe. We also have high rates of sexually transmitted infections.
Effective RSE does NOT encourage early sexual experimentation but it enables children to mature and understand the reasons for delaying sexual activity until they are ready.

7. Some of the Dangers
Easy access to pornography and the extreme nature of much of this material.
The dangers of online grooming and sexual exploitation of young people.
Online bullying.
The pressure young people feel to participate in the sharing of intimate details, images or videos of themselves with peers.
The permanent digital record left behind in the wake of online communication.

8. Parents and our RSE Education
Our RSE policy is on our school website Click here to see policy The policy has been written using materials provided by Liverpool Archdiocese and the Government – we welcome any views parents may have on this.

9. Sacred Heart, Leigh’s RSE Policy
The first part of the policy explains our rationale and then our aims and objectives.
The second part of the policy explains that RSE will be taught in various ways through our RE lessons, Science lessons, PSHE lessons and special RSE lessons we will teach three times during the school year using the resource ‘A Journey in Love.’

10. Research by the Government… Young people say :
They want to learn about sex and relationships.
They want more than just the biological facts. They want to talk about feelings and morals.
They want adults to answer their questions.
Just over half of the children asked found it easy to talk to a parent about sex.

11. What parents say
They have anxieties about relationships and sex and their children.
84% said there would be fewer teenage pregnancies if more parents talked to their children about sex.
87% felt too many teenagers are pressurised into having sex.
Many find TV programmes or a book a helpful way to raise the subject.
1 in 3 mums and 2 in 3 dads have not told their children ‘a lot or anything’ about relationships and sex.

12. What should you do? LISTEN TALK
To your children – ask them about lessons in school. Say what your views and values on sex and relationships are. Answer any questions they may have.
To the staff at school – especially if you have concerns.
To other parents – especially from our school community.
LISTEN
To your child, their questions and wishes.
To your child’s school – clearly understand the values, policy and approach to RSE.
To the opinions of other parents and how they manage with their children.

13. THANK YOU Any questions?