Hathershaw College

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)

Our RSE provision is underpinned by our comprehensive RSE Policy which can be found here.  The government advice and guidance we follow can be found here.

We consulted with parents and carers on our policy and have ensured that all provision is age appropriate and with an emphasis on keeping children safe.  With this in mind, our teaching includes reference to what relationships are and what safe relationships look like.

For total transparency, an overview of our provision by year groups is provided below.  Parents and carers may choose to exercise their right to request samples of teaching materials or contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Nichola Baker nba@hathershaw.org.uk for more information.

 

Year 7

 

Themes Content Curriculum Area

What factors make a positive relationship?

What is most important to me in my relationships with friends, family?

What makes a relationship happy or unhappy?

What communication skills would help me in my relationships?

Citizenship

How do I judge if I have a healthy relationship with a friend, family member or peer?

Recognise the features of a safe relationship

Recognise the signs of an unhealthy relationship

Report unhealthy relationships

Citizenship

What is the best way to challenge bullying and prejudice?

What are the types of bullying?

Impact it can have on individuals

Responsibilities- including bystanders to report and get help

Citizenship

Mental Health

How to talk about their emotions accurately and sensitively, using appropriate vocabulary

That happiness is linked to being connected to others

How to recognise the early signs of mental wellbeing concerns Common types of mental ill health (e.g. anxiety and depression)

Citizenship

Marriage and the law

Legal status and protection of marriage

Why should marriage be freely entered into?

What is a civil partnership?

Citizenship

How does physical activity help with both my physical and mental wellbeing?

Promotion of mental health through exercise

Promotion of team sports and relationships

PE

How does family break up affect us?

Coping with a family breakup

Speaking about feelings

Support

Citizenship

What new laws have been created to protect us?

Sexting and up skirting

FGM and the law

Citizenship

How do I keep myself safe online?

Keeping safe when online:

  • Online safety and keeping identities private
  • Grooming and how to report any concerns
  • Cyberbullying and how this can have an impact on the victims
  • Dangers of chatrooms and online gaming
  • Online identity theft and fraud
  • Phishing of data
  • Emails scams and fake websites

Computing

How does pornography distort positive relationships?

What is pornography?

Why is it misleading?

How can it damage our relationships?

Citizenship

Reproduction

Reproduction (main parts of both male and female reproductive system and their function)

Why do boys get erections?

Science

Reproduction

Relationships

Healthy lifestyle and fertility

Pregnancy and miscarriage

Citizenship

Fertilisation and implantation

(sexual intercourse, arousal, penetration, ejaculation, implantation of egg)

Science

Development of a foetus

(gestation, where baby grows, structures inside the uterus – placenta, umbilical cord, fluid sac, briefly mention birth)

Science

Adolescence

(puberty, physical changes, sex hormones briefly introduced)

Science

The Menstrual cycle

(periods, ovulation, contraception – condoms and contraceptive pill, briefly mention STIs)

Science

Year 8

 

Themes Content Curriculum Area

What are the protected characteristics?

Learn what the nine characteristics are:

Sex, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity and marriage and civil partnership

Understand the equality act 2010

Understand how stereotyping can cause harm for people

Citizenship

Why do relationships change during adolescence?

Develop an understanding of how hormones can affect you

Develop an understanding of how your relationships may change with family and friends

Learn to manage thoughts and feelings

Citizenship

How do I determine if other children, adults or sources of information are trustworthy?

Reflect on what makes a healthy relationship

Learn from examples of where peers have trusted the wrong people

Spot the signs of untrustworthy people on the internet

Citizenship

What can I do when family and friendships break-up?

Further develop an understanding of strategies to cope with a break up

Citizenship

How does how I feel about my body affect my self-esteem?

Understand that a healthy lifestyle helps and physical exercise can maintain good mental health

Healthy eating can help with health in general and help prevent tooth decay and cancer

Understand how the media use strategies to make people look different and that we shouldn’t use media pictures as goals for our own bodies

Citizenship

What is sexual harassment and how do I spot the signs?

Identify what sexual harassment is

Learn how to keep myself safe

How to report sexual harassment and online sexual harassment

Citizenship

What are the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco to your physical and mental health?

The facts about legal and illegal drugs and their associated risks, including the link between drug use, and the associated risks, including the link to serious mental health conditions

The law relating to the supply and possession of illegal substances

The physical and psychological risks associated with alcohol consumption and what constitutes low risk alcohol consumption in adulthood

The physical and psychological consequences of addiction, including alcohol dependency

Awareness of the dangers of drugs which are prescribed but still present serious health risks

The facts about the harms from smoking tobacco (particularly the link to lung cancer), the benefits of quitting and how to access support to do so

Citizenship

Further understand puberty

Am I normal? What is normal for my age? If I am a late developer, will I catch up?

Use examples of others to learn how everyone is different

Learn how do hormones affect boys and girls differently?

Citizenship

How does physical activity help with both my physical and mental wellbeing?

The characteristics and evidence of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight, including the links between an inactive lifestyle and ill health, including cancer and cardio-vascular ill-health

PE

Basic First Aid

Basic treatment for common injuries

Life-saving skills, including how to administer CPR.15

The purpose of defibrillators and when one might be needed

Science

Year 9

 

Themes Content Curriculum Area

Religion and homosexuality

What do the main religions teach about homosexuality?

Religious Education

What infections can be caught from having sex?

Physical and Chemical Defences (STIs – HIV, Chlamydia, how they’re transmitted, screening)

What are the symptoms? What is the impact on your health?

Science

Sex education

What is safer sex?

Should everyone who is sexually active carry condoms?

What is HIV and AIDS, how do you get it? Is it always through sex?

Does sex always lead to pregnancy? How can conception be prevented?

What are the different methods of contraception? Are some easier to use than others?

When should emergency contraception be used?

Who should be responsible for contraception/safer sex in a relationship?

If someone is on the pill, why do they have to use a condom as well?

Are all methods of contraception also protection against sexually transmitted infections including HIV?

About the prevalence of some STIs, the impact they can have on those who contract them and key facts about treatment

Orgasm

Can I negotiate this with my partner or should I trust them?

How do I use a condom and does it affect sexual performance?

The benefits of regular self-examination and screening.

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Should I be responsible for contraception in a relationship?

If I think I have a sexually transmitted infection, where can I get it treated?

If a woman gets pregnant, what choices does she have?

What are the best websites on sex and relationships for young people?

How can I find out about local contraception and sexual health services, and what should I expect from them?

Can I see a nurse or doctor in private?

Citizenship

Teenage pregnancy

Know what it is like to be a teen and have a child

What should I do if I feel I am being pressured into having sex?

Is everybody having sex?

What are the biggest influences on me and my friends’ sexual behaviour and health?

What do different cultures and religions believe about sex and relationships?

Citizenship

Where can I access support about sexual health?

What are my rights as a young person to information, sexual health services and confidentiality?

What is the full range of services, help and information available to me, where can I find out about them and how can I make the most of these services?

That there are choices in relation to pregnancy (with medically and legally accurate, impartial information on all options, including keeping the baby, adoption, abortion and where to get further help)

Citizenship

Consent- communicate

How people can actively communicate and recognise consent from others, including sexual consent, and how and when consent can be withdrawn (in all contexts, including online)

Add reporting sexual harassment

Citizenship

The realities of violence in the media and how it can affect our relationships

Some pupils are also exposed to harmful behaviours online, and via other forms of media, which may normalise violent sexual behaviours. A focus on healthy relationships and broader Relationships Education can help young people understand acceptable behaviours in relationships

Citizenship

Why is it important to keep myself healthy?

About personal hygiene

About dental health and the benefits of good oral hygiene and dental flossing, including healthy eating and regular check-ups at the dentist

The importance of sufficient good quality sleep for good health and how a lack of sleep can affect weight, mood and ability to learn

Citizenship

How does physical activity help with both my physical and mental wellbeing?

Discuss more complex scientific terminology relating to physical and mental health

Know about the science relating to blood, organ and stem cell donation- how being physically active can help support these causes as you are healthier

PE

Year 10

 

Themes Content Curriculum Area

What does it mean to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?

Case studies- realities of life coping with prejudice around gender and homophobia

Further understanding- case studies- the difference between transvestite and trans-sexual

Growing up in the wrong body

Further look into different case studies

Help and support

Citizenship

What is homophobia, what effect does it have on people and what can I do if I or a friend experience it?

Understand the law and homophobia

What problems does Homophobia cause?

Citizenship

What does it mean to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?

Understand that love means love

Understand why people stereotype gays and lesbians/ male, females and transgender/ and stigmatise people with STIs such as HIV

Understand the difference between transvestite and trans-sexual

Citizenship

Consent- know your rights, know your responsibilities

The concepts of, and laws relating to, sexual consent, sexual exploitation abuse, grooming, coercion, harassment, rape, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based violence and female genital mutilation, and how these can affect current and future relationships

Who can I talk to? What support is out there?

Form Period

Risky situations

Can I negotiate this with my partner or should I trust them?

I know that alcohol and drugs may affect sexual choices and behaviour - how can people reduce the risks from this?

What are the qualities I should look for in a partner?

How do people know when they are ready to have sex/be intimate with my boyfriend/girlfriend?

Does drinking alcohol or using drugs affect my decisions about behaviour?

Form Period

Hormones

Sex hormones – oestrogen and testosterone

Science

Menstrual Cycle

In more detail than Y7 – menopause, menstruation, ovulation, contraception (male condom, diaphragm/cap, hormone pill or implant), what happens when egg is fertilised or not fertilised

Science

Hormones and Menstrual Cycle

FSH, LH and how they control the menstrual cycle. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and Clomifene therapy, IVF

Science

Year 11

 

Themes Content Curriculum Area

Gender identity

Exploring and understanding gender

Case studies and look into gender identity

Coping growing up in an ever changing world

Citizenship

What is the difference between love and sexual attraction?

How will I know if I am in love?

Is it normal to be attracted or in love with someone of the same gender? Does this mean I am gay or lesbian?

Do you have to have sex to show someone you love them?

How can I cope with strong feelings such as anger, sadness, desire and love?

Learn what the most important aspects of a strong relationship with other people are

What is acceptable touching and behaviour amongst my peers?

Understand the complexities of having sex at an early age

Explore the features of stable and healthy relationships to overcome conflict- same-sex relationships

Citizenship

What does it mean to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender?

Understand that love means love

Understand why people stereotype gays and lesbians/ male, females and transgender/ and stigmatise people with STIs such as HIV

Understand the difference between transvestite and trans-sexual.

Citizenship

Relationships and my mental health

What is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour in a relationship? This will help pupils understand the positive effects that good relationships have on their mental wellbeing, identify when relationships are not right and understand how such situations can be managed

Citizenship

Relationships and marriage

Why do people get married or have a civil partnership?

How different types of relationships contribute to human happiness and their importance for bringing up children

That some types of behaviour within relationships are criminal, including violent behaviour and coercive control

At what age is it legal to have sex? At what age is it legal to get married/ or have a civil partnership?

Citizenship

FGM- Further develop my understanding of FGM

Schools should address the physical and emotional damage caused by female genital mutilation (FGM). They should also be taught where to find support and that it is a criminal offence to perform or assist in the performance of FGM or fail to protect a person for whom you are responsible from FGM.

Citizenship/span>

Spotting the signs of an abusive relationship (honour-based violence)

What constitutes sexual harassment and sexual violence and why these are always unacceptable That there are a range of strategies for identifying and managing sexual pressure, including understanding peer pressure, resisting pressure and not pressurising others What are the laws on sexual offences? Do people try to control or exploit one another through sexual relationships? How can I recognise when this might be happening and respond to it? What is the most effective way to resist pressure from friends or partner to do things I don’t want to do? How can I help a friend in an abusive relationship? Do males and females have different expectations in relationships?

Citizenship

Sexual harassment and the law

What constitutes sexual harassment and sexual violence and why these are always unacceptable

That there are a range of strategies for identifying and managing sexual pressure, including understanding peer pressure, resisting pressure and not pressurising others

What are the laws on sexual offences?

Do people try to control or exploit one another through sexual relationships?

How can I recognise when this might be happening and respond to it?

What is the most effective way to resist pressure from friends or partner to do things I don’t want to do?

How can I help a friend in an abusive relationship?

Do males and females have different expectations in relationships?

Citizenship

How can I keep my data safe and secure and the risks of online gambling?

How information and data is generated, collected, shared and used online The risks related to online gambling including the accumulation of debt, how advertising and information is targeted at them and how to be a discerning consumer of information online.

Citizenship