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Lea Manor High School

Relationships & Sex Education

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health.

RSE ensures that our pupils receive a comprehensive and age-appropriate education in areas related to human sexuality, relationships and sexual health. Our RSE curriculum intends to provide pupils with a relevant learning experience that will equip them with the knowledge and skills required to live healthy and safe lives both now and in the future. 

As a school we are committed to delivering the RSE curriculum in line with the statutory guidance, whilst working with our families and community, so we deliver with transparency and integrity but equally in line with the academic rigour of the rest of our curriculum. The RSE curriculum supports the Lea Manor ethos of embracing diversity and inclusion linked to the protected characteristics and promotes respectful behaviour and attitudes in line with the 5R’s.

Information for Pupils

We understand as teenagers that there are various relationships which can form and evolve.

This can be with family, friendships, in person or online.

As personal relationships develop, sexual contact or activity may occur. If you are sexually active; please ensure you are safe (use contraceptives and be aware of transmitted infections). Sexual contact must be consensual. 

It may be difficult to talk to someone but we would encourage you to be open with your parent or caregiver.

We would also encourage you to speak to a member of staff or visit the Safeguarding office. We can talk through relationships and sexual health.

Other places for support: 

Luton Sexual Health

Luton Sexual Health can give you free, confidential advice on a range of sexual subject: sex and relationships, using condoms, LGBTQ, STI and contraception.

Information for Parents & Carers

Why is RSE important?

Relationships and Sex Education provides students with the knowledge, skills, and values to have safe, responsible, and respectful relationships. This curriculum enables pupils to take ownership of their holistic well-being.

RSE at Lea Manor High School

At Lea Manor High School, we deliver RSE through RE lessons, Assemblies and the form-time. We encourage pupils to engage in the learning with respect for others beliefs and opinions. We provide pupils with a safe environment to develop meaningful and informative discussions whilst also maintaining clear boundaries and high expectations. We emphasise the importance of not sharing personal information throughout these discussions but ask that students show respectful curiosity about the topics covered during the curriculum. 

Our RSE curriculum is driven by high quality resources that meet the standards of the PSHE Association. The scheme of work has been extensively researched and carefully explored in depth to ensure that age appropriate materials are used in lessons and are well matched to meet the needs of all our pupils at Lea Manor High School. As with the academic curriculum, the school will conduct lessons in a safe and trusting environment. 

The guidance, which details what schools are expected to teach, and what children should learn before they leave secondary school can be found here. There is also a quick, handy guide for parents, detailing the key facts about RSE at secondary school, which can be found here.

RSE Journey

Year 7

In Year 7, pupils will focus on how to build positive and maintain healthy friendships with their peers and communities. Additionally, it highlights the importance of respect in such relationships.

British Values are introduced and the need for tolerance of others beliefs and opinions. 

RSE Topics include:

  • Healthy friendships
  • Showing respect
  • Characteristics of behaviour

Year 8

In Year 8, pupils will gain a deep understanding of the impacts of prejudice on LGBTQ+ people. They understand that prejudging LGBTQ+ people is a form of prejudice equivalent to all other types, for example, racism. Pupils learn about the difference between sex and gender identity. They explore the themes of gender stereotyping, labelling, prejudice and discrimination whilst learning to look for opportunities to challenge prejudice and discrimination. Leading on how to manage harmful online content and where to find the necessary support.

RSE Topics include:

  • LGTBQ+
  • Consent
  • Challenging gender stereotyping
  • E-safety (managing harmful digital content and relationships on screen)

Year 9

In Year 9, pupils will focus on managing their mental well-being whilst recognising where to get support for those struggling with mental health. Furthermore, pupils discuss how romantic relationships in the media are portrayed and investigate the validity of such relationships; highlighting the importance of consent; diving into the issues and law based on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM); and finally, ending the year with the rights and responsibilities of parenthood.

Additionally, pupils will investigate the importance of consent in healthy friendships and provide examples of where consent should always be given. Year 9 pupils will also obtain clear knowledge on the misconceptions of masturbation, whilst exploring safe sex and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's), and alternative measures to pregnancy.

RSE topics include:

  • LGTBQ+
  • Consent
  • Masturbation
  • STI’s
  • Contraception
  • Pregnancy, adoption and abortion
  • Managing mental well-being
  • Relationship red flags
  • FGM
  • Families
  • Marriage
  • Rights and responsibilities of parenthood

A letter requesting consent is sent out before the RSE lessons in Year 9; Sex and Relationships is the topic to be covered.

A parent’s right to withdraw their child from RSE does not affect the child’s right to use confidential health services provided at the school or elsewhere.

Year 10

In Year 10, pupils will explore the importance of respectful intimate relationships and building on their knowledge of unhealthy relationships from previous years. Pupils will be aware of the signs of Domestic Abuse and coercive control, whilst informing them on the support that is out there for such people.

Furthermore, Year 10 pupils will investigate the dangers and warning signs of Child Sexual and Child Criminal Exploitation (CSE AND CCE). Moreover, they will continue their journey into staying safe online; discussing the law behind ‘sexting’ and sending ‘nudes’; ending the year examining the widespread issue of ‘honour based violence’.

RSE topics include:

  • Domestic violence
  • Unhealthy relationship and coercive control
  • Grooming, Child Sexual Exploitation and Child Criminal Exploitation (CSE and CCE)
  • Sexting
  • Honour based violence
  • Respectful relationships
  • Intimacy

Year 11

Year 11 pupils end their RSE journey by gaining further knowledge on the importance of consent and the law and investigating how to navigate and manage their way through changing relationships and friendships after secondary school. Pupils will also gain further knowledge on contraception, abortion, STIs and LGBTQ+. Finally, pupils will be able to address the misconceptions around the expectations on sexual relationships. 

RSE topics include:

  • Changes in relationships
  • Navigating through relationships
  • Recognising consent
  • Normal sex vs expectation
  • LGBTQ+
  • Abortion
  • STIs
  • Contraception
  • Forced Marriage
  • FGM
 

Parental Consultation

We acknowledge that it is imperative to consult with parents and provide information openly and transparently. To that end, we would like to invite you to view the following key documents:  

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Policy:

RSE Policy - Section 7.6
'Parents will not be able to withdraw their child from any aspect of Relationships Education or Health Education. Parents will be able to withdraw their child (following discussion with the school) from any or all aspects of Sex education, other than those which are part of the science curriculum, up to and until three terms before the age of 16. After that point, the guidance states that ‘if the child wishes to receive sex education rather than be withdrawn, the school should make arrangements to provide the child with sex education during one of those terms’. Where pupils are withdrawn from sex education, Lea Manor High School will document the process.'

Should you wish to withdraw your child from RSE please contact Ms S Lewis (Associate Assistant Headteacher Humanities & PSHE) slewis@leamanorhighschool.org

To view RSE FAQs please click here.