RHSE

Knowing that the Government has statutory requirements for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), but that faith schools are able to teach RSHE in line with their faith’s beliefs can sometimes feel a bit confusing and overwhelming, especially when schools want to communicate clearly with parents.

WE believe that parents are the first educators of their children. It is their right and responsibility to inform and educate their children in matters relating to human growth and development, particularly sexual development. Therefore, we will always seek to work in partnership with parents and carers. The teaching offered by Archbishop McGrath should complement and not replace your primary role as parents. In doing so, we are fulfilling the mission of the Church and enacting the Home-Parish-School triangle: supporting the Church in its duty to educate on these matters, and assisting parents in their duties.

There are distinct differences between primary and secondary schools and the curriculum they are required to cover for RSHE.

In primary schools, the subject is entitled ‘Relationship and Health Education’. There is no compulsory mention of the word ‘sex’ in the subject for primary schools. This means that ‘sex education’ is an optional subject.

In secondary schools, the subject is entitled ‘Relationship, Sex and Health Education’. Here, ‘sex education’ is a compulsory element of the statutory curriculum.

IN secondary school RSE in the curriculum focuses on three broad strands:

Relationships and identity: helping learners develop the skills they need to develop healthy, safe, and fulfilling relationships with others and helping them to make sense of their thoughts and feelings.

Sexual health and well-being: helping learners to draw on factual sources regarding their sexual and reproductive health and well-being, allowing them to make informed decisions throughout their lives.

Empowerment, safety and respect: helping to protect learners from all forms of discrimination, violence, abuse and neglect and enabling them to recognise unsafe or harmful relationships and situations, supporting them to recognise when, how and where to seek support and advice.

Where such a right does no longer exists (as under the provisions of the ‘Curriculum for Wales’), particular care has been taken to ensure that dialogue and involvement of parents is a priority concern of the school.

As part of Life to the Full, we have created an Online Parent Portal. This section of our website is available to all parents whose child’s school uses Life to the Full. The Online Parent Portal provides a summary of each lesson, links to specific content and suggestions for further engagement at home. Every school is given a unique username and password which they can distribute to parents to provide all-year-round access to the portal.

Since September 2021, Ten Ten has been running online training courses for teachers, governors and parents. These training courses provide opportunities for further engagement and understanding on matters related to Relationships, Sex and Health Education.

Archbishop McGrath uses an online RHSE programme - Life to the Full. To help us support parents they have created an Online Parent Portal. This section of their website is available to all parents whose child’s school uses Life to the Full. The Online Parent Portal provides a summary of each lesson, links to specific content and suggestions for further engagement at home. Every school is given a unique username and password which we can distribute to parents to provide all-year-round access to the portal.

Since September 2021, Ten Ten has been running online training courses for teachers, governors and parents. These training courses provide opportunities for further engagement and understanding on matters related to Relationships, Sex and Health Education.