Relationships and sex education at The Royal School

At The royal school our vision is to light up our communities and the world through being - big thinkers – resourceful - independent and resilient - generous of spirit - honest and - team players

Relationships and sex education is interwoven throughout our school vision, in particular the aspects of:

• Independent and resilient
• Generous of spirit
• Honest
• Team players

RSE is included in curriculum planning as part of Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PHSE) and Science at The Royal School.

Sex education beyond the scope of the science curriculum up to lower Key Stage 2 is not delivered at The Royal School.

The delivery of RSE is not solely through planned lessons but also through the way that we relate to each other and the way that adults at the school model appropriate behaviour within relationships. Our school mission statement states that on a daily basis children are “learning to love” and this idea that friendships and positive relationships are based on skills that we can learn is taught incidently throughout the school day.

1. Aims

The aims of relationships and sex education (RSE) at our school are to:

   Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place

   Prepare pupils for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene

   Help pupils develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy

   Create a positive culture around issues of sexuality and relationships

   Teach pupils the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies

2. Statutory requirements

As a maintained primary school we must provide relationships education to all pupils as per section 34 of the Children and Social work act 2017.

However, we are not required to provide sex education, but we do need to teach the elements of sex education contained in the science curriculum.

In teaching RSE, we must have regard to guidance issued by the secretary of state as outlined in section 403 of the Education Act 1996.

At The Royal School we teach RSE as set out in this policy.

3. Policy development

This policy has been developed in consultation with staff, governors and parents. The consultation and policy development process involved the following steps:

1. Review – the headteacher pulled together all relevant information including relevant national and local guidance
2. Education committee consultation.  Governors on the education committee were given the opportunity to look at the policy and make recommendations
3. Staff consultation – all school staff were given the opportunity to look at the policy and make recommendations
4. Parent/stakeholder consultation – parents and any interested parties were given the opportunity to look at the policy and submit a written response.  Parents who submit a written response will then be invited to attend a meeting about the policy
5. Ratification – once amendments were made, the policy was shared with governors and ratified

4. Definition

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 involves a combination of sharing information, and exploring issues and values.

RSE is not about the promotion of sexual activity.

RSE teaching will be delivered via two areas of the curriculum – Science and PSHE. 

At Key Stage 1: - 

• Children should know that humans develop at different rates. 
• The animals including humans, move, feed, grow, use their senses and reproduce 
• To recognise and compare the main external parts of bodies of the humans 
• That humans and animals can produce off spring and these grow into adults 
• To recognise the similarities between themselves and others and treat others with sensitivity. 

At Key Stage 2:- 

• Begin to know about and have some understanding of the physical, emotional and social changes, which take place at puberty. 
• Know that there are many different kinds of friendship; be able to talk about friends with important adults. 
• That the life processes common to humans and other animals include nutrition, growth and reproduction 
• The main stages of the human life cycle 

Our Governors have agreed that no formal teaching of sex education beyond this scope will take place in the classrooms. Where children ask questions the teaching staff will direct this topic to parents.  

6. Delivery of RSE

RSE is taught within the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum. Biological aspects of RSE are taught within the science curriculum, and other aspects are included in religious education (RE)  and Information technology (staying safe online)

Relationships education focuses on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships including:

   Families and people who care for me

   Caring friendships

   Respectful relationships

   Online relationships

   Being safe

These areas of learning are taught within the context of family life taking care to ensure that there is no stigmatization of children based on their home circumstances (families can include single parent families, LGBT parents, families headed by grandparents, adoptive parents, foster parents/carers among other structures) along with reflecting sensitively that some children may have a different structure of support around them (for example: looked after children or young carers).

7. Roles and responsibilities

7.1 The governing board

The governing board will hold the headteacher to account for the implementation of this policy.

The governing board has delegated the approval of this policy to the headteacher

7.2 The headteacher

The headteacher is responsible for ensuring that RSE is taught consistently across the school.

7.3 Staff

Staff are responsible for:

   Delivering RSE in a sensitive way

   Modelling positive attitudes to RSE

   Monitoring progress

   Responding to the needs of individual pupils

   Reporting to parents if a child has requested information beyond the scope of The Royal School RSE curriculum.

   Responding appropriately to pupils who ask questions beyond the scope of the curriculum by guiding them to have a further discussion with their parents.

All teachers are responsible for planning, RSE to meet the learning needs of their class.  The Headteacher is the curriculum leader for RSE.

7.4 Pupils

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

8. Parents’ right to withdraw

Parents do not have the right to withdraw their children from relationships education.

9. Training

Staff are trained on the delivery of RSE as part of their induction and it is included in our continuing professional development calendar.

The headteacher will also invite visitors from outside the school, such as school nurses or health professionals, to provide support and training to staff teaching RSE.

10. Monitoring arrangements

The delivery of RSE is monitored by the headteacher through, planning scrutinise and samples of pupils work.

Pupils’ development in RSE is monitored by class teachers as part of our internal assessment systems.

This policy will be reviewed by the headteacher annually in September.  It is a live document and any changes or recommendations should be forwarded to the headteacher.

By the end of primary school pupils should know