Relationships & Sex Education (RSE) Policy

1.1 This policy sets out how we teach Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) at Changing Lives Independent School and has been developed with regard to section 34 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017.

2.1 Under ‘Policy statement: relationships education, relationships and sex education, and personal, social, health and economic education’, RSE became statutory in all schools in England from September 2019.

2.2 As a school we must provide RSE to all pupils as per section 34 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017.

2.3 Secondary schools must have regard to guidance issued by the Secretary of State as outlined in section 403 of the Education Act 1996.

3.1 RSE is about the emotional, social and cultural development of pupils, and involves learning about relationships, sexual health, sexuality, healthy lifestyles, diversity and personal identity. RSE is not about the promotion of sexual activity.

4.1 This policy has been developed in consultation with staff, students and parents.

4.2 We are committed to working in partnership with parents and carers on Relationships and Sex Education.

4.3 We encourage parents or carers to contact the curriculum leader for PSHE or the Headteacher if they wish to discuss our RSE provision further.

5.1 We understand the importance of educating pupils about sex, relationships and their health, for them to make responsible and well-informed decisions in their lives. The teaching of RSE and health education helps to prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

5.2 RSE supports the spiritual, moral, social, cultural, mental and physical development of students at school and in wider society. We have an obligation to provide pupils with high-quality, evidence-based and age-appropriate teaching of these subjects.

5.3 RSE at Changing Lives provides an opportunity for all students to:

• Gain the knowledge they need to help them develop healthy, nurturing relationships of all kinds
• Develop maturity, build their confidence and self-esteem
• Learn about themselves and others
• Understand how to be safe and healthy, now and into their futures
• Understand how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way
• Learn about wellbeing and mental health
• Learn about their rights and responsibilities and how to report and recognise emotional, physical and sexual abuse
• Develop resilience and self-respect
• Become equipped with the knowledge and capability to take care of themselves now and into their futures and know where to receive support if problems arise

5.5 RSE at Changing Lives Independent School ensures students learn about:

• Different types of relationships, including friendships, family relationships, intimate relationships and dealing with strangers
• How to recognise, understand and build healthy relationships, including self-respect and respect for others, commitment, tolerance, boundaries and consent, how to manage conflict, and how to recognise unhealthy relationships
• Risks, including those online and offline
• The law, including the law around consent and forms of abuse
• How relationships may affect health and wellbeing, including mental health
• How to access confidential advice and support
• Keeping themselves and others safe, including having sufficient information and skills to protect themselves and their partner from unintended or unwanted conceptions and STIs including HIV
• Factual knowledge around growing up, reproduction, sex, sexual health, sexuality and identity

6.1 RSE is taught within PSHE lessons.

6.2 Students study PSHE across all Key Stages.

6.3 All students have one 55-minute PSHE lesson each week.

6.4 Our PSHE curriculum, which includes RSE units, is available on the school website for viewing.

6.5 RSE is embedded in all the elements of our PSHE curriculum.

6.6 The delivery of RSE is also supported by assemblies and tutor-time discussions and presentations.

6.7 Teachers delivering RSE are supported through professional development, regular meetings as a department and the support of accredited external agencies.

6.8 RSE is taught in an inclusive way, including covering LGBT relationships. Our RSE curriculum caters for all students and is respectful of how students choose to identify themselves, understanding that depending on their age and maturity, their sexual orientation and gender identity may be ‘emerging’.

6.9 Our RSE curriculum ensures that there is no stigmatisation of students based on their home circumstances and reflects sensitively the diverse nature of families, identities and relationships which exist in the United Kingdom.

6.10 Our curriculum is designed to ensure that learners with SEND are supported to understand RSE in an age-appropriate way. We believe that RSE is a priority for all pupils, including students with SEND who have social, emotional and mental health needs and learning disabilities.

7.1 The Headteacher is responsible for ensuring that RSE is taught consistently across the school and for managing requests to withdraw pupils from non-statutory components of RSE.

7.2 The Curriculum Leader of PSHE is responsible for the RSE curriculum delivered in PSHE lessons.

7.3 Staff timetabled to teach PSHE are responsible for the delivery of RSE to their timetabled classes, including ensuring RSE is delivered in a sensitive and age-appropriate way, modelling positive attitudes to RSE and responding to the needs of individual students.

7.4 If any member of staff has concerns about a student, they must follow the school safeguarding procedures.

7.5 Pupils are expected to engage fully in RSE and, when discussing issues related to RSE, treat others with respect and sensitivity.

8.1 At the heart of our RSE curriculum is the focus on keeping students safe and we recognise that effective relationships and sex education may bring about disclosures of a safeguarding nature.

8.2 All staff receive safeguarding training upon induction and follow an annual training programme to refresh and update their knowledge. If any member of staff has concerns about a student they must follow the school safeguarding procedures.

8.3 All staff will be alert to the signs that a student is at risk of or is suffering child sexual exploitation (CSE). CSE is a form of sexual abuse where children are sexually exploited for money, power or status. Staff are aware that CSE does not always involve physical contact and can take place online and that in all cases consent can never be given.

8.4 All staff are aware that effective relationship and sex education can lead to disclosure of a child protection issue. In these circumstances staff cannot offer or guarantee absolute confidentiality. If a member of staff believes a child is at risk or in danger, they will talk to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

8.5 Where external visitors are supporting the delivery of RSE, our safeguarding policy is shared in advance with these visitors.

8.6 RSE plays an important role in ensuring our students gain an understanding of acceptable and unacceptable relationships and sexual behaviour. Content on consent, sexual harassment, bullying and coercion is included in our RSE curriculum.

8.7 Students are regularly provided with signposting information, ensuring that they are aware of how to raise concerns or make a report for themselves or others.

9.1 Relationships and Sex Education is part of all students’ education, and it is hoped that all will participate. However, the school acknowledges that parents have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the sex education programme, except for that part which occurs in the National Science Curriculum.

9.2 If parents or carers have any queries or questions relating to RSE at Changing Lives Independent School, they are advised to contact the Curriculum Leader of PSHE.

9.3 There is no right to withdraw from Relationships Education or Health Education. Parents or carers have the right to withdraw their children from the non-statutory components of sex education within RSE up to and until three terms before the child turns 16.

9.4 Parents or carers wishing to withdraw are asked to make an appointment to meet with the Curriculum Leader of PSHE to discuss their concerns. Alternatively, parents can write to the Headteacher.

9.5 A student can request to receive sex education three terms before they turn 16, and the school should provide this in at least one of those terms.

9.6 Appropriate alternative work will be set for pupils who are withdrawn from the sex-education aspect of RSE.

10.1 Staff are trained on the delivery of RSE as part of our commitment to professional development and meet on a regular basis with the curriculum leader and other staff involved in delivery.

10.2 All staff receive safeguarding training upon induction and follow an annual training programme to refresh and update their knowledge. As such all staff will be alert to signs that a student is at risk of or is suffering sexual exploitation.

11.1 The delivery of RSE is monitored as part of our quality assurance of PSHE and includes regular learning walks and student-voice activities.

11.2 Pupils’ development in RSE is monitored and assessed by their PSHE teacher and the Curriculum Leader of PSHE.