Sex Education
Development
This policy was developed and agreed in consultation with governors, senior management team, staff, parents, students and other relevant outside agencies e.g Middlesbrough Health Promotion. The Academy has liaised with its feeder schools through the Middlesbrough Health Promotion personnel to ensure the teaching and learning is progressive. This policy reflects national aims and objectives including National Healthy School and Quality Standards. Publications are available for information and are housed in Assistant Principal (Student Development)'s office.
To Whom Does the Policy Apply
This policy applies to the Academy students, all staff, visitors on site and parents.
Overall Aim
To clarify the provision of Sex and Relationship Education to all students (including education about HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections) and the teaching of human growth and reproduction as set out in the National Curriculum. We recognise that we are only one component of our student's education and that family, community and social groups all have a contribution to make on Sex Education. Our Sex Education programme reflects the aims and values of our Academy and its governing body.
Roles and Responsibilities
Governors
The Governing Body has a written statement of the policy available to parents.
They will continue their involvement through regular evaluation of it.
Principal
The Principal takes overall responsibility for ensuring that any Sex Education is provided in a way that ensures students are taught about the nature of marriage and its importance for family life and for bringing up children and that students are protected from teaching materials which are inappropriate, having regard to the age and cultural background of the students concerned.
Heads of Years
Heads of Year have the responsibility of writing to parents to inform them of their right to withdraw their child from all or part of Sex and Relationship Education.
Teaching Staff
Teachers have a responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of students and because teachers act 'in loco parentis', parents need to be reassured that the personal beliefs and attitudes of teachers will not influence the teaching of Sex and Relationship Education within the tutorial framework. Teachers are required to adhere to the Academy's policy on confidentiality between themselves and students, especially when they believe that a student has embarked on a course of conduct that would place him or her at moral or physical risk or in breach of the law. Teachers cannot offer or guarantee absolute confidentiality. It is only in the most exceptional circumstances that Academy will be in a position of having to handle information without parental knowledge. Where younger students are involved this will be grounds for serious concern and child protection issues will need to be addressed. Students should be encouraged to talk to their parents or carers and give them support to do so. If there is evidence of abuse the child protection procedure should be adhered to, ensuring that students are informed of sources of confidential help, for example the Academy sister, Counsellor, GP or local advice service.
Students
Students need to be taught to behave responsibly towards sex and relationship issues and be able to make informed decisions.
Parents
Parents or guardians have the right to withdraw their children from all or part of any Sex Education provided, but not from teaching the biological aspects of human growth and reproduction necessary under National Curriculum Science.
Use of Visitors and Outside Agencies
Where visitors and outside agencies are involved, their contribution must have been planned as part of an overall programme of Sex and Relationship Education. Their contribution should complement the teaching already taking place in the Academy.
Limits of Confidentiality
Students disclosing information about sexual activity by themselves, or by people they know, should be reminded that the teacher cannot offer absolute confidentiality.
It should be noted that if the preservation of a confidence:
enables criminal offences to be committed or results in serious harm to the student's health and welfare civil or criminal proceedings will ensue.
If a person discloses information relating to underage sexual activity then absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Students should be reminded of this when appropriate. Any such disclosure should be reported to designated teacher for Child Protection and/or Assistant Principal (Student Development).
Outline for Sex and Relationship Education
Aims and objectives
The main aims of our Sex and Relationship Education are to allow students to:-
Develop positive values and a moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgements and behaviours.
Be aware of their sexuality and understand human sexuality.
Understand the arguments for delaying sexual activity.
Understand the reasons for having protected sex.
Understand the consequences of their actions and behave responsibly within sexual and pastoral relationships.
Have the confidence and self esteem to value themselves and others and have respect for individual conscience and the skills to judge what kind of relationship they want.
Communicate effectively.
Have sufficient information and skills to protect themselves and where they have one, their partner from unintended/unwanted conceptions and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
Avoid being exploited or exploiting themselves.
Avoid being pressured into unwanted or unprotected sex.
Have access to confidential sexual health advice/support and, if necessary, treatment.
Know how the law applies to sexual relationships.
The National Curriculum and Education Reform Act 1988 Requirements
The National Curriculum Science Order states that:
At key stage 3 students should be taught:
1d that fertilisation in humans ……………. is the fusion of a male and female cell
2f about the physical and emotional changes that take place during adolescence
2g about the human reproduction system, including the menstrual cycle and fertilisation
2h how the foetus develops in the uterus
2n how the growth and reproduction of bacteria and the replication of viruses can affect health
At key stage 4 students should be taught:
3f the way in which hormonal control occurs, including the effects of sex hormones
3g some medical uses of hormones, including the control or promotion of fertility
3l the defence mechanisms of the body
4d how sex is determined in humans.
Section 1 of the Education Reform Act 1988 places a statutory responsibility upon schools to provide a broad and balanced curriculum which:
Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of students at the school.
Prepares students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
Teaching Programme, Strategies and Resources
Sex and Relationship Education is delivered by the Personal Tutor in whole class or groups situations. A wide variety of teaching and learning strategies should be used, including establishing ground rules introducing 'distancing' techniques making use of discussion and project learning and encouraging reflection. These will encompass the broad aims of PSHE delivered through the Tutorial curriculum as reflected in the National Curriculum Science Order and the SCAA guidance.
It is also taught within other curriculum areas for example Science and RE. Where the teaching and learning includes issues which may be sensitive, staff and students will work within clearly understood and applied ground-rules (see QCA guidance).
(See also section relating to confidentiality)
Resources
All resources for Sex Education are kept in Assistant Principal (Student Development)'s office and/or in Head of Year's office. The resources are purchased after careful consideration and evaluation of the materials in line with national guidelines and the aims of this policy.