All Church of England schools are statutorily required to teach Relationships Education; Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (RSHE).
RSHE enables pupils to flourish and gain every opportunity to live fulfilled lives, and fully embodies our school’s Christian Ethos of creating ‘A Place where everyone can flourish’ (John 10:10). It also personifies Christian beliefs about human dignity (e.g., Genesis 1:26-27) and the need to love your neighbour as you love yourself (e.g., Mark 12:30-31). Church of England schools should offer age appropriate and coherent Relationships and Sex Education that reflects the school’s Christian vision and supports pupils to form healthy relationships. (SIAMS evaluation schedule, 2018).
Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.’ (Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education, 2019)
The RSHE statutory guidance states that at primary schools 'we want the subjects to put in place the key building blocks of healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships, in all contexts, including online. This will sit alongside the essential understanding of how to be healthy’. At Tunstall C of E Primary School we deliver this through our RSHE lessons. These are held once a week from Reception through to Year Six and and comprise of the following 5 areas. Each area is taught at least once a term.
The HeartSmart programme is divided into 5 key sections called the ‘HeartSmart High Five’. We believe that language creates culture and that the features of an outstanding RSHE curriculum are underpinned by the values of Christianity in order for every child to flourish. Each lesson has a clear Bible link and each child in the school receives a differentiated programme under the umbrella of the same five key sections:
The Zones of Regulation is a complete social-emotional learning curriculum, created to teach children self-regulation and emotional control.
We teach anti-racism at school to help children understand the importance of fairness, respect and equality. By raising awareness of racism and its impact, we aim to ensure our pupils feel confident, valued and empowered to challenge discrimination and stand up for what is right in a positive and respectful way.
Growing up with Yasmine and Tom is an online resource designed by teachers, for teachers to support the delivery of high-quality relationships, sex and health education as part of a PSHE programme.
Sex Education Lessons
Joint responsibility should rest with parents for RSHE. Parents/carers have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of the sex education lessons provided at school except for those parts included in statutory National Curriculum Science. These are the following lessons:
- Year 6, Term 3: Making babies - sexual reproduction
- Year 6, Term 4: Making babies - assisted fertility and multiple births
- Year 6, Term 5: Making babies – pregnancy and birth
Those parents/carers wishing to exercise this right are invited in to see the Headteacher and/or subject co-ordinator who will explore any concerns and discuss any impact that withdrawal may have on the child. Once a child has been withdrawn, they cannot take part in the sex education programme until the request for withdrawal has been removed.
The school always complies with the wishes of parents in this regard. It is important to note that all other lessons are compulsory and the children cannot be withdrawn from these lessons.
Parents/carers must be aware that we, as a school, are legally required to provide a broad and balanced curriculum. Sex and relationships topics can arise incidentally in other subjects, such as Science, and it is not possible to withdraw pupils from these relatively limited and often unplanned discussions.
The role of parents in the development of their children’s understanding about relationships is vital. Parents are the first teachers of their children. They have the most significant influence in enabling their children to grow and mature and to form healthy relationships. At Tunstall C. of E. Primary School, we wish to work in conjunction with parents in enabling our children to flourish and hold ourselves jointly responsible for sex education.
See the links below for further helpful information:
Relevant policies
Relationships education in primary
RSHE statutory guidance 2019
If you have any further questions, please see RSHE FAQs