Relationships and Sex Education

Primary Students

Relationships Education

At Lady Byron School, we follow the national guidance on Relationships Education, which is a compulsory part of the curriculum in all primary schools. Our aim is to give children the knowledge and skills they need to build safe, healthy and positive relationships as they grow.

What Children Learn

• Families and Caring
  Children learn that families come in many forms, all of which provide love, security and care. They are taught the importance of respect for different family structures and how to recognise when a relationship is making them feel unsafe, as well as where to seek help.
• Friendships
  We teach the value of friendship for happiness and wellbeing. Children learn about kindness, honesty, loyalty, respect and how to resolve conflicts. They also explore how to recognise unhealthy friendships and what to do if they feel worried.
• Respectful Relationships
  Pupils learn the importance of treating others with respect, understanding differences, and showing courtesy and good manners. They are taught about bullying (including online bullying), stereotypes, and the importance of permission and consent in age-appropriate ways.
• Online Safety
  Children are introduced to safe and respectful behaviour online. They learn how information is shared on the internet, how to recognise risks and harmful content, and how to report concerns.
• Keeping Safe
  Pupils are taught about personal privacy, boundaries, and that their body belongs to them. They learn how to recognise unsafe situations, both in person and online, and how to seek help from trusted adults.
• Supporting Wellbeing
  Relationships Education is closely linked with promoting children’s mental health and wellbeing. Positive friendships, resilience, kindness and a sense of self-worth are developed throughout the programme.
• Sex Education in Primary
  Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools, beyond what is taught in science (e.g. naming body parts, growth and puberty, and reproduction in some plants and animals). However, we believe it is important to prepare children for adolescence. Before introducing any additional sex education content, we consult with parents and provide support in discussing these topics at home. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from sex education lessons (but not from science or Relationships Education).

 

Secondary Students

Relationships & Sex Education (RSE)

At Lady Byron School, RSE builds on the foundations taught in primary. It equips young people with the knowledge and confidence to develop healthy, respectful relationships and to make informed decisions as they grow into adulthood.

Healthy Relationships 

• What positive relationships look like – including friendships, family, colleagues, marriage and long-term partnerships.
• The importance of respect, kindness, honesty, trust, loyalty and consent.
• How to recognise unhealthy or unsafe relationships and where to get help.
• The impact of healthy relationships on wellbeing and self-respect.

Intimate Relationships & Sexual Health

• Understanding human sexuality, delaying sexual activity and resisting pressure.
• How to build safe, fulfilling and consensual intimate relationships.
• Contraception choices, pregnancy options (including adoption and abortion), and sexual health.
• The facts about STIs, testing and treatment.
• How alcohol and drugs can affect decision-making.

Respect & Safety

• Respect for diversity, equality and different family structures.
• The law on consent, marriage, harassment, sexual violence, FGM, forced marriage and abuse.
• How to recognise grooming, exploitation, coercive control and unhealthy behaviours.
• Where to seek trusted support.

Online & Media Awareness

• Staying safe online, recognising risks and reporting harmful content.
• How data is shared and used online.
• The impact of pornography and harmful online material.
• Understanding the risks of sharing personal or explicit images.

Character & Wellbeing

• Building resilience, confidence and self-worth.
• Developing honesty, integrity, courage, kindness and responsibility.
• Taking part in social action and active citizenship.

Key Principles

• Taught in a factual, non-judgemental, age-appropriate way.
• Inclusive of all pupils, including different sexual orientations and gender identities.
• Rooted in the law, so pupils understand their rights and responsibilities.
• Supports safeguarding, ensuring pupils know how to seek help and stay safe.