Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy

Policy details

Date created - November 2022

Date reviewed - September 2025

Date approved - 01 January 2026

Next review date - 01 January 2029

Policy owner - Headteacher

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy

Links to other relevant policies

Introduction

Aims of PSHE, RSE and Citizenship

What is RSE and what does it aim to achieve?

How is PSHE, RSE and Citizenship delivered at Co-op Academy Manchester?

What topics are covered?

Evidence of student progress and understanding in PSHE, RSE and Citizenship

Links to other relevant policies

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
• Special Education Needs (SEN) and Inclusion Policy
• Equal Opportunities Objectives
• Positive Behaviour Policy

As a secondary academy school we must provide ‘Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education’ (RSE) to all students as per section 34 of the Children and Social work Act 2017.

In teaching RSE, we are required by our funding agreements to have regard to guidance issued by the secretary of state as outlined in section 403 of the Education Act 1996.

At Co-op Academy Manchester, we teach RSE as set out in this policy.

Introduction

In September 2020, the Government introduced a new Relationships, Sex Education and Health curriculum for schools, which includes information relating to the abuse of women and girls, including teaching about boundaries and consent, sexual harassment, sexual violence, abusive behaviour, and specific forms of abuse that women and girls often experience. (Taken from Gov.uk)

New guidance has since been released, and all schools are expected to have this implemented by September 2026. Therefore, we are currently updating our curriculum and beginning to introduce content as directed in the new guidance. This includes content such as more emphasis on vaping while previous guidance mentioned only tobacco and E-Cigarettes. The new guidance can be found on this government document, and a summary of content found on page 14.

Relationship and sex education is a statutory aspect of school life and an important part of the development of our students lives. At Co-op Academy Manchester, RSE is taught through lessons (for example reproduction in Year 7 science) and within our Personal, Social, Health and Economics education programme. This is one hour a week within a timetabled lesson at year 7 and 8, one hour a fortnight in year 9 and within dedicated time within tutor at KS4. All lessons are delivered by staff in a safe and secure learning environment that enables our students to gain accurate knowledge, ask questions to correct misconceptions and develop their own attitudes and values. The lessons are planned using Government guidance and further guidance from the PSHE association. They are planned by the PSHE lead or other subject specialists as appropriate. Lessons are planned with the consideration of our students' needs and the needs of our community as appropriate. All lessons take into account the ability, age, cultural backgrounds and those with English as a second language to ensure all students can access the content.

The Governing Body is required to have a copy of the RSE policy available to parents / carers, and this should be read in conjunction with the academy’s Safeguarding, Child Protection and Anti-Bullying policies and PSHE/Citizenship policy.

The Headteacher is responsible for ensuring that this policy is fully implemented, and that staff are appropriately prepared and sufficient resources made available to ensure effective delivery. While the overall responsibility for this policy rests with the Headteacher, the management and day-to-day implementation of this rests with the Vice Principals, the Assistant Vice Principal for Personal Development and the Head of PSHE.

Students are expected to engage fully in RSE and, when discussing issues related to RSE, treat others with respect and sensitivity. Ground rules are frequently set and re-set within the lesson setting to ensure anyone involved is aware of expected conduct.

Aims of PSHE, RSE and Citizenship

Co-op Academy Manchester recognises and values the benefits that the Relationships and Sex (RSE) programme offers its students. The study of this subject is often combined with the PSHE curriculum, as there is a great deal of overlap between the two programmes of study, and often the topics reinforce and support each other.  Further to this, much of the RSE curriculum is covered within other subject areas such as science.

Co-op Academy Manchester offers learning opportunities that enable students to acquire the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to take responsibility for themselves, show and offer respect to others, and develop their confidence and self-awareness.  This will enable them to be informed when making decisions and able to cope with the challenges life brings. This will also enable them to be more able to respond appropriately to all aspects of life, in order to be accountable and positive citizens.

Co-op Academy Manchester teaches the RSE education programme in context and always in an age appropriate, supportive and non-judgemental manner. In addition, RSE education will promote children’s self-esteem and emotional well-being and help them to form and maintain worthwhile and safe relationships, based on respect for themselves and for others, at home, at academy, at work and in the community.

Each half term, parents will receive a breakdown of the topics covered within PSHE, RSE and Citizenship; this list should be considered exhaustive. As an academy, we reserve the right to adapt, edit or amend the content of the curriculum, or to alter when students receive this content. We reserve the right to adapt this curriculum in response to events within the academy, local community, nationally or internationally. We will also always amend our planning for RSE based on the requirements of the cohort of students in any year group, at any time.

The coordination, planning and delivery of RSE is led by the Lead for PSHE, RSE and Citizenship. They primarily take the lead on the planning of PSHE, RSE and Citizenship, however many members of staff contribute to the content and delivery of all subjects where appropriate.

Co-op Academy Manchester recognises the importance and value of parents / carers and families in helping their children to develop and make responsible decisions for themselves based on informed choices. This will be reflected in the delivery of the PSHE curriculum.

Co-op Academy Manchester’s PSHE, RSE & Citizenship lessons will be underpinned by the academy’s values and by the latest Keeping Children Safe guidance. Planning is informed by the national guidance and PSHE association.

What is RSE and what does it aim to achieve?

RSE (relationships and sex education) is learning about the emotional, social, moral, spiritual, cultural and physical aspects of growing up, relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health. It prepares them for life long decisions and experiences as they approach adult life as it equips them with the information, skills and values to have safe, fulfilling and enjoyable age-appropriate relationships and to take responsibility for their sexual health and well-being.^[1] Students develop the knowledge that there are moral, ethical and legally acceptable forms of behaviour and how and when to seek advice and support. Students are provided with a safe learning environment to ask questions about relationships, sex and their changing bodies to eliminate any misconceptions and provide them with factual information.

Where students have questions which are not age appropriate or are personal, staff will use distancing techniques, such as de-personalising a response or returning to the ground rules as established at the start of the lesson to maintain a safe learning space.

Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from "Sex Education" that is delivered as part of the specific RSE curriculum. However, under current Department for Education (DfE) statutory guidance, there are three areas where parents have no right to withdraw their child. These subjects are mandatory for all students in secondary school; Relationships Education, Health Education and content which overlaps with the national Science curriculum.

An example of how Sex education is distinct from Health and Relationships Education is shown below.

How is PSHE, RSE and Citizenship delivered at Co-op Academy Manchester?

PSHE, RSE and Citizenship are taught in two main ways in Co-op Academy Manchester; embedded into the curriculum across different subject areas, timetables PSHE lessons and within tutor time.

The primary method of delivery is during tutor time where students have a forty minute lesson each day as part of the tutor time provision. These lessons cover a variety of topics and issues that link in to the RSE, PSHE, RSE and Citizenship curriculum. The sessions planned and delivered contain a focus on debate, discussion and delivering knowledge whilst also allowing students to develop their own opinions and understanding of complex and engaging topics. Assemblies can often also be used to deliver RSE content, and may complement the weekly topics delivered during Tutor.

What topics are covered?

RSE

• Families – Within this topic, students are taught about the different types of committed stable relationships and how these relationships contribute to happiness and how they can assist in bringing up children. Students are also taught the legal definition and status of marriage and its attendant rights and protections, compared with other non-legally enforceable ways of recognising a relationship. Students are also taught about the roles and responsibilities of parents and parenting. Finally, students learn about how to judge safe and unsafe relationships, and how to seek help or advice, or report concerns when needed. Some elements of this content will only be taught at KS4 to ensure it is delivered in an age appropriate fashion.
• Respectful relationships, including friendships – Within this topic, students are taught about positive and healthy relationships with others and their characteristics and the practical steps they can take in a range of situations to improve or support respectful relationships. Students will also learn about the impact of stereotypes and how these can cause damage, and that everyone in the academy and wider society can expect to be treated with respect by others, and should show due respect to others in turn, including people in authority and due tolerance of other people’s beliefs, lifestyles and cultures. Students will also learn about the legal rights and responsibilities regarding equality, and the value of everyone’s unique identity. Furthermore, students will also learn about different types of bullying, its impact and the responsibilities of bystanders. Finally, students will be taught what constitutes criminal behaviour, coercive control, sexual harassment and sexual violence, and why these activities are illegal and always unacceptable. Some elements of this content will only be taught at KS4 to ensure it is delivered in an age appropriate fashion.
• Online and media – Within this topic, students are taught their rights, responsibilities and opportunities online, including online risks, including that any material someone provides to another has the potential to be shared online and the difficulty of removing potentially compromising material placed online, and to be careful not to share any material they would not wish to be shared further, or to share personal material which is sent to them. Students are also taught about the impact of viewing harmful content, how specifically sexually explicit material can present a distorted picture of sexual behaviours, can damage the way people see themselves in relation to others and negatively affect how they behave towards a sexual partner. Students also learn that sharing and viewing indecent images of children (including those created by children) is a criminal offence which carries severe penalties including jail. Finally, students learn about how information and data is generated, collected, shared and used online. Some elements of this content, such as information about the impact of sexualised content, will only be taught at KS4 to ensure it is delivered in an age appropriate fashion.
• Being safe – Within this topic, students are taught the concepts of, and laws relating to, sexual consent, sexual exploitation, abuse, grooming, coercion, harassment, rape, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based violence and FGM, and how these can affect current and future relationships. Students will also learn how people can actively communicate and recognise consent from others, including sexual consent, and how and when consent can be withdrawn in all contexts. Some elements of this content will only be taught at KS4 to ensure it is delivered in an age appropriate fashion.
• Intimate and sexual relationships, including sexual health – Within this topic, students are taught to recognise the characteristics and positive aspects of healthy one-to-one intimate relationships (which include mutual respect, consent, loyalty, trust, shared interests and outlook, sex and friendship). Students will also learn how all aspects of their health can be affected by the choices they make around relationships and sex, both positively and negatively. Students will also learn the facts about reproductive health and the potential impact on lifestyle of fertility. Finally students will learn about strategies to identify and manage sexual pressure, about choices to delay sex or to enjoy relationships and intimacy without sex and the facts about the full range of contraceptive choices available. Most elements of this content, such as information regarding becoming physically intimate with another person, will only be taught at KS4 to ensure it is delivered in an age appropriate fashion.

Many of the topics discussed are introduced throughout all year groups and knowledge is then built on. This is to develop students' understanding and knowledge as they build relationships, their bodies develop and change and as they become aware of not only the personal impact of issues concerned but the wider social responsibilities towards relationships and sex.

Evidence of student progress and understanding in PSHE, RSE and Citizenship

Co-op Academy Manchester will use several methods to assess and report on the student’s progress and development in RSE, PSHE and Citizenship. Evidence of student progress and understanding will be monitored through:

• Mastery and Growth tasks in KS3 PSHE and assessed by a Rubric in the same format as all other subject areas, allowing teachers to carefully monitor student understanding.
• All PSHE lessons, across Ks3 and Ks4 will begin to implement the same teaching strategies which the academy is working together with the Coop Academies Trust; using checking for understanding and cold calling to allow teachers to monitor understanding and re-teach where necessary.
• Resources will act as evidence of planned and delivered content for Tutor time and timetabled sessions.
• Drop-ins undertaken by the Lead for PSHE, RSE and Citizenship, alongside the Curriculum lead and PD lead.
• Student voice.
• Staff voice.

The PSHE subject lead will also frequently meet with the Designated Safeguarding Lead to ensure the curriculum is responsive and meets the needs of our students. Staff are supported in understanding their safeguarding and confidentiality duties. Teachers cannot offer or guarantee absolute confidentiality in some matters and students will be made aware of this. The academy is aware that effective relationships and sex education can lead to the disclosure of a child protection/safeguarding issue and this will be acted on in accordance with the school’s Safeguarding Policy. Students will be informed of the sources of confidential help available which currently include the school counsellor, pastoral staff, the school nurse and local advice centres.