Relationships education: we can all play a part
AS SCHOOLS and young people continue to be ahead of the curve in settling back into normal life, a number of social concerns have been raising tensions in the adult and youth community alike. From the murder of Sarah Everard to the launch of Everyone’s Invited (EI), since March this year British society has contended with a range of practical and ethical issues that directly affect the wellbeing of our young people, in the areas of sexual abuse, sexual health and RSE, relationships and sex education.
For more than 15 years, Streetwise, a partnership project between Maccabi GB and CST, has been engaging students on subjects such as online safety, bullying and boundaries, as well as relationships and sex education, in both primary and secondary Jewish schools.
RSE is lifelong learning about physical, moral and emotional development; it is about understanding the basics of physical development, our friendly and romantic relationships, how the media and pornography might affect our sense of self and sexuality, the dangers of sexually transmitted infections and above all this, the concept of consent, respect, love and care for others.
In September 2020, a JC editorial headed “We need to continue the discussion ‘Esty’ started” introduced the topic of consent education in our Jewish schools. Little did we know that only six months later, the abusive nature of the relationships our youth are experiencing would be highlighted, in anonymity but with the clarity of an official report, through the thousands of testimonies shared on EI.
It is an endemic issue and it is due to the poor foundations of relationships education that this society provides for young people. From September 2021, it becomes a mandatory requirement for schools to teach RE and RSE within the National Curriculum.
WHY IS RSE IMPORTANT IN ALL SCHOOLS?
Just like all other aspects of education, RSE is about building blocks. From the beginning of primary school and all the way to university, we prepare children and young people to develop and maintain successful relationships. We promote honest, sensitive and positive conversations about these topics, always taking into consideration the Jewish ethos of the school.
We firmly believe that through a coordinated effort between schools, parents and external expert organisations, we can provide young people with the necessary toolkits to grow into healthy adults; and it is clear that at all ages, young people are keen and interested to explore these topics.
Alongside a number of guideline documents which Streetwise provides to schools and parent bodies, the key aspects of our RSE provision can be summarised in five points:
l Increased understanding of our bodies and the importance of family structures: In key stage one, relationships education focuses on learning about family structures and trusted adults. Body parts and their names, as well as the differences between male and female anatomy, are introduced alongside the concept of diversity and individuality. The Pantosaurus song, together with the concept of private parts, provide the basic yet essential foundation that supports a child’s ability to understand themselves in relationship to others, all framed within conversations about respectful language and behaviour.
l Learning about the changes we all experience: In key stage two, the programmes focus on our personal boundaries and how these affect our relationships with others. From year four, we explore the different physical and emotional stages of development, and in years five and six we discuss the changes brought by the onset of puberty, the life cycle and reproduction. Programmes on body image introduce the concept of external influences and pressures and how these affect our relationships. Together with our Transition to Secondary School programme, we aim to prepare children for secondary school, by giving them the tools to understand their bodies and how relationships of all types are formed.
l Improved confidence: In secondary school, RSE sessions focus on body image, boundaries in relationships as well as gender stereotypes. Before engaging in pragmatic conversations about sexual health, it is essential to establish the foundations for healthy relationships by discussing these topics. Young people are much more likely to have healthy, positive relationships when they have high levels of confidence and self-esteem.
Relationships and sex education should not overlook the importance of ensuring young people understand positive coping strategies, know what they can do to make themselves feel good and how to support others to increase their own confidence.
Encouraging young people to be comfortable with who they are (in the face of so much falsity experienced on social media) before they begin a relationship will have a positive impact on their future.
l Understanding of consent and sexual health: From years eight and nine onwards, the RSE programmes focus on two specific aspects: sexual health and consent. From our myths and facts programme, to the more advanced topics of STIs and contraception in years ten and 11, young people are able to learn about the details pertaining to sexual encounters. With these, the topic of consent runs throughout our secondary school programmes, providing clear understanding of what a healthy relationship entails and how to avoid feeling pressured by others. Recent events have exposed the reality experienced by so many young people, mostly females, in schools across the country; it must be understood that consent does not pertain only to personal romantic relationships and that a culture of respect for each other’s space and boundary must be instilled in young people. Understanding of the rights and responsibilities over their own and other people’s bodies, and a clear understanding of the legalities of consent are a must for all.
l Prevention of abusive relationships: In key stage five, our programmes explore sexual health and the transition to university. By understanding more about relationships, young people become better equipped to identify when things are not right and feel more confident and supported in speaking out. RSE, through its foundations laid since primary school, increases the chances a young person will know where to seek support should they need it. All Streetwise sessions are concluded with signposting to essential services within and beyond the Jewish community.
By accessing relationships education from a young age, children and young people will aspire to engage, when their time is right, in healthy relationships with the necessary confidence and respect.
In a world where children receive information about relationships and sex from a variety of sources, many of which are inaccurate and unhealthy, we aim to support schools to develop and deliver high-quality programmes for all ages. We must learn the lesson of Everyone’s Invited by developing a holistic approach to relationships education, to support our young people in becoming healthy, responsible adults.
We can provide the toolkits to grow into healthy adults’ A culture of respect for each other’s space must be instilled’