RSE (Relationships and Sex Education)

At Belvidere School we aim to promote personal wellbeing and development through a comprehensive programme of Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE).

Our curriculum reflects:

Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) forms part of the PSHE programme for each year group. RSE helps students to build their confidence, resilience and self-esteem, to identify and manage risk, make informed choices and understand what influences their decisions. It helps pupils to form and maintain healthy and safe relationships, and to know how and when to ask for help, and to know where to access support.

Lessons are delivered in a safe and inclusive learning environment, with respectful peer-to-peer communication and behaviour. School takes a proactive approach to tackling issues such as everyday sexism, misogyny, homophobia and gender stereotypes and take positive action to build a culture where these are not tolerated, and any occurrences are identified and tackled. School pastoral and behaviour policies support all students, and lesson content and delivery fully complies with the provisions of the Equalities Act.

A high quality, evidence-based and age-appropriate curriculum helps to prepare our students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

In Year 7, we explore ‘Healthy Relationships’. Students gain knowledge of what a healthy relationship looks like and understand the importance of respecting the privacy of others, as well as boundaries. Students learn about conflict, respect and consent and about gender stereotypes and FGM.

In Year 8, the theme of relationships is explored further to include consent values and managing influences and pressures. Relationships are also explored in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity. By the end of the topic, students will also have learnt about puberty and conception and common forms of contraception (e.g. condoms and the pill).

During Year 9, students delve deeper into themes around relationships, particularly within the contexts of respectful behaviour and conflict, and the breaking down of relationships. Sexual health and safety are introduced, looking at sexually transmitted infections and contraception. Students discuss how the portrayal of relationships in the media and online might affect expectations, and explore how to assess and manage risk online.

In Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11), further positive and negative aspects of relationships are explored and developed including intimacy, pleasure and also pressure and coercion. Harmful and negative factors affecting relationships such as pornography and abuse are considered. Personal values and assertive communication (including in relation to contraception and sexual health) are explored.

As a school community, we are committed to working in partnership with parents/carers. An annual consultation invites parents to review and share their views about the proposed programme and RSE policy. Feedback from pupils and staff helps to ensure our Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum meets both statutory requirements, and the needs of our pupils.

Based on feedback from previous year’s curriculum consultation, LGBTQ+ content is fully integrated into the RSE curriculum, approached in a sensitive, age-appropriate and factual way that allows pupils to explore gender identity and the features of stable and healthy same-sex relationships.

The RSE policy and curriculum can be found below.

If you would like further information, or you have any questions in relation to your child’s RSE provision, please contact the school.

Draft RSE Policy 2025

Feedback from parents/carers on our RSE policy and the proposed curriculum is welcomed, and this online questionnaire may be accessed and then completed using the following link:
RSE Policy and Proposed Curriculum Feedback Form

If you would like further information, or you have any questions in relation to your child’s RSE provision, please contact the school.