Sex and Relationships (SRE)
Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is essential if young people are to make responsible and well informed decisions about their lives.
"The key objective of SRE is to help and support young people through their physical, emotional and moral development" (Guidance 2000)
The Sex Education Forum (SEF) has agreed aims of work.
SRE is most successful when a dedicated teacher has responsibility for monitoring its development and delivery. Wolverhampton recommends that schools ensure the professional development needs of everyone involved in SRE are met by accessing the 3½ day course "delivering effective SRE in schools."
"I was very keen to develop SRE in school, my past experiences as a teacher showed it worked. I believe it should be started at the beginning, in early years" (governor, primary school)
Children and young people learn about SRE formally and informally. Some of what young people learn is accurate and helpful; some of it is based upon ignorance and prejudice that can make young people feel scared.
"We feel sorry for children who don't have SRE at their schools; they will be frightened when things happen to their bodies and they won't know what is wrong" (year 6 pupils)
Once the barriers around SRE are broken down in school and at home, the anxieties and fears children and young people have are addressed. Children and young people need to grow up with the knowledge and advice, which helps them to understand their bodies, and how it changes as well as knowing about sex, sexuality, relationships and sexual health.
"If SRE is part of the curriculum and slotted in naturally, it is accepted, it does not become an issue. I was involved in the staff training day, and as a result I was able to report back to the whole governing body" (governor, primary school)
England has the worst record of teenage pregnancy and sexual ill health among young people in Western Europe.
In Wolverhampton we aim to reduce the rates of teenage pregnancy by providing the following:
- training education and health workers;
- partnership work with school nurses and the TPU;
- termly meetings of a multi-agency - good practice group and SRE development group;
- targeted prevention work in schools and youth settings with groups of vulnerable young people;
- on-site sexual health services;
- participation in healthy schools;
- governor training;
- SRE newsletter;
- support to review and write SRE policy and practice;
- tailor made training and programme writing;
- participation in PSHE certification programme.
In Wolverhampton, we positively encourage the development of SRE in schools as we believe it helps develop skills and confidence to enable young people to lead a healthy lifestyle and develop positive relationships. It also enables young people to discuss this important issue with parents.
"My child was more open; she asked questions about her period, she is more aware about relationships"
We believe that in line with SEF, young people need factual information before they start puberty, before they develop relationships and before they have sex.