2. Sex and Relationship Education Policy NEW

ST JOSEPH’S SCHOOL

 

  

SEX AND RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION POLICY

 

  

School Mission Statement

 

 

The Gospel values for which Jesus lived, preached and died will be proclaimed through our work. Our school will be seen as a community with Christ at the centre, where children are at the heart of all our efforts.

 

Through the actions of all who share in the life of the school: children, staff, parents, governors, helpers, visitors, parish and local communities should feel welcomed, informed, involved and valued. The relationships which exist will be based on love, trust, justice and forgiveness.

 

We will challenge our community to have a deeper awareness and understanding of the Catholic faith, whilst respecting the personal consciences of our children and their families.

 

  

Rationale:

 

  

Stemming from our vision of what it means to be human, we seek to educate the whole person: spiritually, intellectually, morally, emotionally, psychologically and physically towards Christian maturity. We seek to provide an environment where pupils are informed about relationships in the context of the Catholic faith.

 

Our SRE provision within the school is underpinned by two key principles:

 

• The dignity and worth of each person who is made in the image & likeness of God

   

• The importance of individuals coming together in mutual support and regard, to live and work for the good of humankind & the glory of God

   

  

Definition:

 

  

We believe that SRE is about:

 

·        the development of our pupils’ knowledge & understanding of him/herself as a sexual being.

 

·         what it means to them to be fully human, called to live in right relationships with self and others

 

·         being able to use their attitudes & values to make moral decisions in clear conscience.

 

  

SRE aims & objectives:

 

  

• To engender growth in self respect, recognising that each of us is created in the image of God.

   

• To help pupils to develop an understanding that love is central to the basis of relationships.

   

• To explore the meaning & value of life, and give an appreciation of the values of family life.

   

• To enable pupils to reflect on their relationships and recognise the qualities that help relationships to grow & develop positively.

   

• To enable pupils to have some understanding of themselves, their own bodies and their on-going physical & emotional development.

   

• To develop pupils’ confidence in talking, listening and thinking about feelings & relationships.

   

• To help pupils develop an understanding of themselves, their sexuality and that of others.

   

• To develop pupils’ knowledge, understanding & skills to keep them safe from harm & to protect them.

   

•   

School SRE programme:

 

  

Attitudes are formed and values are truly appreciated by the total experience of life in the school, through both the formal & the “hidden” curriculum. These attitudes & values develop as a result of relationships between pupils & staff.  SRE is a responsibility shared by the whole staff, with the whole range of the curriculum contributing to the formation of the right attitudes in our pupils.

 

 Our SRE programme is taught through a variety of subjects & learning opportunities:

 

• Our Here I Am (RE) scheme of work

   

• National Curriculum Science programme of study

   

• KS1 & KS2 programme of assemblies

   

• Class Circle Time

   

• School/Class Council Meetings

   

• PSHCE KS1 & KS2 programme of work including SEAL

   

SRE is taught by way of an integrated, cross-curricular approach. The exception to this integrated approach is in Years 5 & 6 in the summer term when curriculum time is given to specific teaching on sex education.

 

 

Role of staff:

 

  

Class teachers, who have a unique role in valuing & affirming all their pupils, have an especially important contribution to make. As teachers, we actively encourage honest & wholesome relationships; develop gospel values & effective pastoral systems, and provide positive & prudent learning about sex & relationships.

 

Staff realise the obligation to deliver SRE in their role as class teachers. Staff also recognise the need for close co-operation with each other in order to ensure a holistic approach to SRE.

 

We recognise that SRE requires sensitive teaching which is matched to the specific needs & concerns of pupils. Teachers will use their professional judgement when addressing issues in SRE and careful consideration will need to be given to the inevitable wide & varied experience & backgrounds of the pupils in each class.

 

 

Role of the parents:

 

  

“The Church has always recognised that it is the privilege and the responsibility of parents to educate & inform their children in all matters pertaining to personal growth and development particularly on the sensitive area of their moral education and sexual development. The Church also recognises that many parents require help & support in this task from both schools & parishes.”

 

(Bishop Low Week Meeting 1994)

 

We recognise that parents are the first & primary educators of their children.  We seek to support parents in this role. Parents are kept informed of the SRE programme & any subsequent developments.

 

  

Role of the pupil:

 

  

We strive to provide our pupils with the faith values, moral guidance, knowledge, & skills they need to develop their true identity, self regard and confidence. By developing their confidence & self-esteem, we seek to enable them to enjoy relationships based on mutual respect, warmth, trust & sincerity that will sustain them though puberty, adolescence, adulthood and possibly marriage & parenthood.

 

  

Role of the school governors:

 

  

The school governors want to promote a healthy & positive school atmosphere in which SRE can take place. Governors will work closely with school staff & parents to consider carefully the best policy & practices for our pupils.

 

  

Child Withdrawal

 

 

 

 

It is our hope that parents would wish pupils to be involved in the school’s programme of sex education. However, we recognise that parents have the right to withdraw their children from this, but not those areas which are required by National Curriculum science.

 

Parents with concerns are invited in the first instance, to arrange an appointment with the school to discuss these concerns and see if they can be resolved. If the matter remains unresolved, parents need to notify the Governors of their intention to withdraw their child from the sex education programme.

 

  

Pupils’ Questions:

 

  

We will strive to create a positive & healthy school atmosphere in which SRE can take place. We want to ensure that pupils can ask questions freely, be confident that their questions will be answered, and be sure that they will be free from bullying or harassment from other children. Some questions may raise issues, which it would not be appropriate for teachers to answer:

 

(a)   During class time

 

(b)   Within the school context.

 

In such circumstances, pupils will be given the best guidance possible & be encouraged to speak to their parents for further support.

 

  

  

  

Sensitive Issues:

 

  

There will always be sensitive or controversial issues in the field of SRE: marriage & marital breakdowns, divorce, pre-marital sex, abortion, contraception, rape, homosexuality. We believe that children are best educated and protected from harm by insuring that such issues, if they arise, are handled sensitively & appropriately.

 

We will seek to deal with all issues & wider questions in a careful & balanced way, free from sensationalism & personal bias, at a level appropriate to the needs & experiences of the pupils. The use of ground rules, negotiated between teachers & pupils, will help to create a supportive climate for discussion. Pupils will be made aware of the Church’s teachings and Church law as they relate to the issues being discussed.

 

  

Confidentiality & Advice:

 

  

All our lessons, especially those in the SRE programme will have the best interests of the children at heart. Within these lessons pupils may reveal personal information or seek additional teacher support. Staff will always help pupils who may be experiencing personal difficulties or confusion. Pupils will be actively encouraged to talk to their parents about the issues which are discussed in the programme.

 

Teachers will explain to our pupils that we cannot offer unconditional confidentiality, for example, in matters that are illegal or abusive. In such circumstances teachers would have to inform others, e.g. parents, head teacher, but that the pupils would always be informed first that such action was going to take place. (see Confidentiality Policy)

 

  

Equal Opportunities:

 

  

All of our children will have full access to our SRE programme. We recognise that our pupils (even within the same class) have different maturation rates & different levels of self-awareness. We will address each child’s unique & individual needs. We will support them on their journey to adulthood, modelling for them what is good and enabling them to be capable of whole & wholesome relationships.

 

  

Co-ordination:

 

 

 

 

The role of the PSHCE Co-ordinator, who is responsible for SRE, is to:

 

• Lead the staff in formulating the scheme of work.

   

• Ensure cross-curricular work meets the needs of the children.

   

• Monitor the policy.

   

• Report to the head teacher & Governing Body on standards & developments in SRE.

   

• Ensure positive attitudes towards SRE.

   

• Offer guidance & support for staff.

   

• Liaise with the Diocesan School Service.

   

• Ensure parents are consulted regarding any changes in the policy.

   

• Support parents in their task as the first & foremost educators of their children.

   

• Manage the purchase & deployment of resources available for SRE.

   

  

Monitoring & Evaluation:

 

  

The headteacher & Senior Management Team will monitor & review the SRE policy & programme annually in consultation with the RE & Worship Coordinator & class teachers. Feedback to the Governing Body on SRE in the school will form part of the school’s rolling programme of development reports by Link Governors to the full Governing Body.

 

 

 

 

Assessment, Recording & Reporting:

 

 

 

A record is kept in each class teacher’s planning file of the delivery of SRE. Evidence of pupils’ SRE work, subject to their agreement, is collated in each Class PSHCE File.

 

 

 

Date of approval & adoption:

 

  

  

Date of next review: