RSE POLICY
POLICY OVERVIEW
DETAILS
TITLE Relationships and Sexuality Education Policy
TARGET AUDIENCE School Stakeholders, Staff
REVIEW DATE November 2024
REVIEW LEAD Mrs K Mulholland, Mr K Rendall
PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE REVIEW
OF THIS PROCEDURE: Senior Leadership Team, Staff
POLICY PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS ON:
POLICY RATIFIED BY THE BOARD OF
GOVERNORS ON:
EFFECTIVE FROM:
REVIEW FREQUENCY: Every three years (minimum)
PRINCIPAL Mrs K Mulholland
CHAIR OF BOARD OF GOVERNORS Mr W Scott
This procedure has been reviewed to include reference to the remit of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) in investigating complaints from members of the public in relation to mal-administration in publicly-funded schools.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 Legislative Context for RSE
3 Aims
4 Objectives
5 Responding to sensitive issues
6 Child Protection
7 Confidentiality
8 Co-ordination and Delivery of RSE Programme
9 The Role of the "Empowering the Pupils" Curriculum
10 Partnership with Parents and Guardians
11 Monitoring and Evaluation
12 Policy Review
13 RECORD OF POLICY AMENDMENTS
1 Introduction
Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) ‘is a lifelong process, encompassing the acquisition of knowledge, understanding and skills as well the development of attitudes, beliefs and values regarding personal relationships, social relationships and gender issues’.
Sexuality includes all aspects of the human personality and has cultural, biological, psychological, social and spiritual dimensions.
CCEA Guidance for Post-Primary Schools: ‘Relationships and Sexuality Education
In City of Armagh High School, RSE is delivered in keeping with the ethos of the school – ‘Excellence, Opportunity and Care’.
City of Armagh High School is committed to fostering a respectful, safe, and inclusive environment for all pupils. The Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) program aligns with current Northern Ireland legislation, supporting pupils' personal, emotional, and social development. This policy integrates our "Empowering the Pupils" curriculum, a five-year program aimed at equipping students with knowledge, skills, and values that support healthy relationships, informed decision-making, and responsible citizenship.
In addition, the RSE Policy should be consulted in association with the Pastoral Care, Anti-bullying, Positive Behaviour and Child Protection & Safeguarding Policies.
2 Legislative Context for RSE
In 2001, The Northern Ireland Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) issued teacher guidance material on RSE for both Primary and Post-Primary Schools. The Department of Education (DE) Circular 2013/16 requires every school to have an up-to-date written policy on how it will address the delivery of RSE. This circular also states that RSE ‘should be taught in harmony with the ethos of the school and reflect the moral and religious principles held by parents and school management authorities’.
The School’s RSE Policy takes account of the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 and the guidance then issued in 2009 by the Equality Commission regarding eliminating sexual orientation discrimination in schools in Northern Ireland (NI). This legislation demands that all pupils have the right to learn in a safe environment, to be treated with respect and dignity and not
to be treated any less favourably on grounds of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.
Further guidance was issued by CCEA in 2015, in relation to adapting a contemporary approach to the delivery of RSE. The list of factors below are stated as reasons why RSE is important:
1) Respects the rights of children and young people
2) Promotes a better understanding of diversity and inclusion
3) Helps young people keep themselves safer in the digital world
4) Helps young people to recognise and challenge inappropriate behaviour and touch
5) Provides reliable, accurate and age-appropriate information
6) Increases awareness of sexual health.
This school policy incorporates the 2023 Relationships and Sexuality Amendment to Regulations in northern Ireland which amend the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 and the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 in respect of Learning for Life and Work (LLW) to ensure that pupils at key stages 3 and 4 have the opportunity to “Receive age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion” (Referred to here as “Article 5(1A) education”).
3 Aims
The RSE Policy in City of Armagh High seeks to:
ü Promote positive attitudes towards sexuality, personal health and relationships within a moral, social and spiritual framework
ü Enhance and increase the self-esteem, wellbeing and personal development of pupils
ü Encourage and promote healthy relationships based on responsible behaviour and informed decision making
ü Encourage healthy friendships
ü Build awareness of acceptance, tolerance, sensitivity, honesty, trust and respect
ü Develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of themselves and others as individuals
ü Promote positive and informed attitudes towards committed relationships, family life and the responsibilities of parenthood
ü Prepare pupils for future adult life
ü Recognise and understand risk taking behaviour or behaviours
4 Objectives
The RSE programme enables pupils to access experiences that will enable them to:
ü Understand sexual development and human physiology
ü Understand contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases
ü Understand stereotyping, gender issues and cultural issues
ü The effect and influence of social media
ü Recognise differing family structures
ü Explore own feelings and emotions
ü Recognise and use appropriate language and vocabulary to discuss sexual feelings
ü Develop strategies to make informed decisions and problem solve
ü Explore relationships within differing contexts
ü Develop personal and interpersonal skills
ü Establish and maintain healthy relationships
ü Develop skills to manage and cope with peer pressure
ü Develop and awareness of morals and values
ü Recognise rights and responsibilities
ü Learn about agencies and support available that is relevant and age appropriate
ü Understand family issues and lifelong responsibilities.
This policy aims to promote the ethos of City of Armagh High School. It hopes to present facts in an objective, balanced and sensitive manner, set within a clear framework, taking into account current legislation in Northern Ireland. Lessons and topics are age-appropriate, taking into account the age, maturity and understanding of our pupils. Pupils are encouraged to view topics in a responsible and healthy manner, exploring their rights and responsibilities within RSE topic areas.
5 Responding to sensitive issues
In conjunction with a contemporary approach to RSE, certain sensitive issues may occur from time to time, requiring additional consideration:
1) Child Sexual Exploitation
According to updated reports, child sexual exploitation is increasingly evident and is an area of increasing concern in Northern Ireland. This is a ‘form of
sexual abuse in which a person(s) exploits, coerces and/or manipulates child or young person into engaging in some form of sexual activity in return for something the child needs or desires… for the gain of the person(s) perpetrating or facilitating the abuse’ (SBNI). Through RSE we aim to enhance pupil awareness of these issues and help them to recognise and challenge inappropriate and unwanted attention from others.
2) Sexual Identity and Orientation
As stated previously, all pupils have the right to learn in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment, to be treated with respect and dignity and not to be treated any less favourably on grounds of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.
Bullying on the grounds of sexual orientation is unacceptable; it is as unacceptable as it is in any other situation where someone is bullied or mistreated because of their differences from those who are perceived to be the majority. All issues relating to bullying on the grounds of sexual orientation or any other form of homophobic abuse will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in line with the school’s Anti-bullying Policy.
Sexual Orientation will be handled in a sensitive manner, with all staff holding a responsibility to counteract prejudice and support the development of confidence, self-esteem and personal responsibility in all pupils. Equality of opportunity, per school ethos, is promoted for all pupils.
3) Sexting
‘Sexting’ is creating, sharing and forwarding sexually suggestive, nude or nearly nude images via the internet and mobile phones.
In KS3, pupils are given the opportunity to explore the issue of sexting, in conjunction with input from outside agencies and in PD classes.
Within the area of sexting, being safe online is explored, in line with tasks leading up to National Online Awareness Safety day each year in February.
4) Pregnancy
We aim to support any young woman/women who may become pregnant whilst attending school. In consultation and agreement with the young mother to be, a referral may be made to the EA’s SAM (School Age Mothers) Project. Where possible, school will liaise closely with the parents/guardians of the pupil(s).
In the event of a young woman informing school that she is pregnant, it may be necessary to consider if there is a Child Protection issue. A referral can be
made to the Designated Teacher for Child Protection and if necessary, school will follow child protection guidelines.
6 Child Protection
No member of staff can give a guarantee of confidentiality to pupils regarding child protection issues. If details are disclosed during internal or external delivery of RSE , revealing sexual abuse, the teacher/facilitator must follow Child Protection procedures outlined in our Safeguarding and Child Protection policy.
7 Confidentiality
The right to privacy for all pupils will be respected at all times and no pupil will be expected to ask or answer any personal questions.
Personal medical advice will not be given by staff to any pupil. Only relevant qualified doctors and health professionals should give medical advice to pupils.
8 Co-ordination and Delivery of RSE Programme
The Vice-Principal is responsible for co-ordinating the RSE policy and the development of the RSE programme with input from the PD/LLW teacher, RE department and Science department.
The VP role role includes:
ü Ensuring the programme is taught effectively and is appropriate to the age and maturity of the pupils.
ü Liaising with SLT, designated teacher for Child Protection, Board of Governors, all staff, parents and health/educational visitors on RSE matters.
ü Attending appropriate in-service training and disseminating appropriate information to other members of staff.
ü Organising training for staff as and when appropriate.
ü Liaising with outside agencies for curriculum purposes.
The RSE programme in school is delivered via the “Empowering the Pupils” Curriculum, Personal Development (PD) and Learning for Life and Work (LLW) non-exam classes. At KS3, materials are used from the CCEA RSE Hub, including the
CCEA ‘In-sync’ programme and CCEA subject specific work provided online. At KS4, RSE is a statutory component of the Personal Development strand of Learning for Life and Work, alongside Local and Global Citizenship and Education for Employability.
RSE is also delivered across the curriculum in the following subjects:
ü Science
ü Home Economics
ü Child Development
ü Religious Education
ü PE
ü Drama
9 The Role of the "Empowering the Pupils" Curriculum
City of Armagh High School’s "Empowering the Pupils” pastoral curriculum underpins our RSE program, serving as a structured framework that empowers students through each year group. This has been carefully planned across five years to ensure provisions are adequate, relevant, age appropriate and always child centred. The “Empowering the Pupils” Curriculum is based entirely upon feedback, via surveys, questionnaires and interviews from parents/carers, pupils, staff and a range of stakeholders. This curriculum is designed to:
· Offer a progressive, age-appropriate RSE experience over five years.
· Integrate topics such as consent, respect, and healthy relationships into the wider Learning, Life, and Work curriculum.
· Promote resilience, critical thinking, and emotional well-being in various social situations.
· Equip them with the skills and ability to make well thought -out and informed decisions throughout life.
Some aspects of RSE are delivered by external agencies such as ‘Love for Life’, ‘PIPS Hope and Charity’ and PSNI.
At least one member of staff is always present when an external agency is delivering an aspect of the RSE programme. Care is taken to make sure that external agencies comply with the school policy and that there is collaboration between internal and external staff regarding the content presented in school.
RSE meets the needs of both genders and is taught in mixed groups to enable boys and girls to work alongside each other, promoting positive relationships and gaining an understanding of each other’s perspectives. In some circumstances,
mixed gender groupings may be altered where it is deemed more appropriate to teach gender specific issues to single sex groupings.
Teaching methodologies sympathetic to the collaborative and active thrust of the curriculum are used across KS3 and KS4.
10 Partnership with Parents and Guardians
City of Armagh High School values the role of parents and guardians in the RSE program and:
· Informs parents about the RSE curriculum annually through the school website and relevant correspondence.
· Offers opportunities for parents to provide input and ask questions about content and approaches.
· Respects parents’ rights to withdraw their children from specific lessons upon written request based on Article 51.
11 Monitoring and Evaluation
The RSE policy and program will be reviewed annually to ensure alignment with updated legislation, educational best practices, and feedback from students, parents, and staff. Evaluation will include:
· Student and staff feedback.
· Analysis of program outcomes and recommendations for improvements.
12 Policy Review
The RSE policy will undergo a formal review every three years, or sooner if required by legislative updates.
This policy establishes a robust foundation for providing high-quality RSE that meets both legal requirements and the holistic development needs of students at City of Armagh High School.
There may be minor variations to this policy where in the Principal’s judgement it is in the best interests of the school.
Evaluation- This policy will be reviewed as part of the school’s three-year review cycle.