RSE Statement

RSE is lifelong learning about physical, sexual, moral and emotional development. It is about the understanding of the importance of stable and loving relationships, respect, love and care for family life. It involves acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs, values and attitudes. Effective Relationship and Sex Education does not encourage early sexual experimentation. It teaches young people to understand human sexuality and to respect themselves and others. It enables young people to mature, to build up their confidence and self-esteem and understand the reasons for delaying sexual activity.  It builds up knowledge and skills, which is particularly important today because of the many different and conflicting pressures on young people, from peer pressure, media influence and online pressure and threats.

David Game College believes that RSE should be:

• An integral part of the lifelong learning process, beginning in early childhood and continuing into adult life
• An entitlement for all young people
• Cross-curricular
• Encouraging each student to contribute to our community and aim to support each other as they grow and learn
• Set within the wider David Game College context and support family commitment and love, respect and affection, knowledge and openness
• Encouraging students and teachers to share and respect each other’s views. The important values are love, respect and care for each other
• Generating an atmosphere where questions and discussion on sexual matters can take place without any stigma or embarrassment.
• Recognising that parents are the key people in teaching their children about sex, relationships and growing up. We aim to work in partnership with parents and students, consulting them about the way these topics are delivered at the College, recognising that the wider community has much to offer and aiming to work in partnership with health professionals, social workers, peer educators and other mentors or advisers.

The aim of RSE is to provide balanced factual information about broader emotional, ethical, religious and moral dimensions of sexual health and reproduction. Our RSE programme, delivered in a number of ways, aims to prepare students for an adult life in which they can:

• develop positive values and a moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgements and behaviour
• have the confidence and self-esteem to value themselves and others
• have respect for individual conscience and the skills to judge what kind of relationship they want
• understand the consequences of their actions and behave responsibly regarding sexual and pastoral relationships
• avoid being exploited or exploiting others or being pressured into unwanted or unprotected relationships
• communicate effectively by developing appropriate terminology for sex and relationship issues
• develop awareness of their sexuality and understand human sexuality
• promote respectful relationships that take other peoples dignity and respect into account
• challenge sexism and prejudice and promote equality and diversity
• understand the arguments for delaying sexual activity
• understand the reasons for having protected sex
• have sufficient information and skills to protect themselves and, where they have one, their partner from uninvited/unwanted conceptions and sexually transmitted infections including HIV
• be aware of sources of help and acquire the skills and confidence to access confidential health advice, support and treatment if necessary
• know how the law applies to sexual relationships
• challenge toxic masculinity and stereotypical views
• challenge all forms of discriminatory behaviour
• understand the importance of respect for others and that any form of sexual harassment or bullying is totally unacceptable
• with parents and students, consulting them about the way these topics are delivered at David Game College and recognising that the wider community has much to offer, and aiming to work in partnership with health professionals, social workers, peer educators and other mentors or advisers.

Topics covered:  Our RSE programme covers the core elements of:

1. Consent and healthy relationships
2. Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
3. Marriage and alternative forms of relationship
4. Sexting and revenge porn
5. Pornography
6. Body shaming
7. Criminal sexual exploitation and County Lines
8. Pregnancy, miscarriage and abortion
9. Toxic relationships
10. LGBTq+ and homophobia
11. Sexual harassment (including cyber-bullying)
12. Substance abuse and relationships
13. Misogyny and gender-based discrimination
14. Domestic violence
15. FGM, honour-based violence

In line with statutory guidance, whilst parents do not have the right to withdraw their children from all or any part of Relationships Education or Health Education, parents can request to withdraw their children from any or all parts of the College’s programme of sex education, other than those elements which are required by the National Curriculum.  It is realised that, under exceptional circumstances, a very small number of parents may wish to exclude their children from this programme. If parents have requested that their child be withdrawn from an aspect of Sex Education, the Co-Principal will meet with parents to discuss the benefits of receiving this important education and any detrimental effects that withdrawal might have on the child. This could include any social and emotional effects of being excluded, as well as the likelihood of the child hearing their peers’ version of what was said in the classes, rather than what was directly said by the teacher (although the detrimental effects may be mitigated if the parent proposes to deliver sex education to their child at home instead).

Once those discussions have taken place, except in exceptional circumstances, the College will respect the parents’ request to withdraw the child, up to and until three terms before the child turns 16. After that point, if the child wishes to receive sex education rather than be withdrawn, the College will make arrangements to provide the child with sex education during one of those terms.