RSE (Relationships and Sex Education)
As a part of your child’s educational experience at St Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, we aim to promote personal wellbeing and development through a comprehensive taught programme of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education that gives children and young people the knowledge, under-standing, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future.
As you may already be aware, the Department for Education has announced changes to relationships and sex education following nationwide consultation.
Please click on the image below for guidance issued by the Department for Education:
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This means that we have reviewed our RSE (Relationship and Sex Education) curriculum and policy so we can be sure our RSE provision is appropriate for our pupils based on their:
- Age
- Physical and emotional maturity
- Religious and cultural backgrounds
- Special educational needs and disabilities
RSE is part of the mission of Catholic schools to educate the whole person. It should be carried out as part of the holistic education which seeks to form as well as inform young people in preparation for adult life. (Catholic Education Service)
Catholic schools are required to deliver RSE in accordance with the teaching of the church. This approach is compatible with the guidance issued by the DfE.
Our RSE and PSHE link together, so we have one policy which covers both. This was updated in Spring 2023 by the FGB. There were no changes to the RSE part of the policy.
Click the image below to read our RSE and PSHE policy.
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RSE Information
During the consultation process parents had access to:
- Our proposed draft Policy for Relationships, Sex and Health Education
- Details of the resources we will use to support us
- A PowerPoint presentation for parents (also saved as a PDF)
- FAQ sheet,
- DfE guidance that outlines statutory requirements
The video below talks through the RSE guidance in greater detail and the approach we are taking.
Life to the Full
At St Mary Star of the Sea, we will be using the Ten:Ten programme for Catholic primary schools, Life to the Full, to teach Relationships Education and Health Education within the context of a Christian understanding of human sexuality rooted in the wisdom and teaching of the Catholic Church.
We will deliver this teaching through the prism of Catholic RSHE. The framework of our programme is taken from the Model Catholic RSE Programme by the Catholic Education Service, which has been highlighted by the Department of Education as a work of good practice.
Life to the Full is a fully resourced Scheme of Work in Relationships and Health Education (RHE) for Catholic primary schools which embraces and fulfils the new statutory curriculum. Taught with a spiral approach to learning, in which pupils will revisit the same topics at an age-appropriate stage through their school life, the programme includes teaching about personal health, physical and emotional wellbeing, strong emotions, private parts of the body, personal relationships, family structures, trusted adults, growing bodies, puberty, periods, life cycles, the dangers of social media, where babies come from, an understanding of the Common Good and living in the wider world. The entire teaching is underpinned with a religious understanding that our deepest identity is as a child of God - created chosen and loved by God. The programme is fully inclusive of all pupils and their families.
Pleasenote: Puberty and change will not be taught until Upper Key Stage 2 and parents will be informed beforehand.
Journey in Love
Alongside Life to the Full we will also be using Journey in Love.
Click the image below for further information on the Journey in Love curriculum.
