The MsUnderstood Programme aims to improve local and national responses to young people’s experiences of gender inequality. Check out our website.
The MsUnderstood Programme aims to improve local and national responses to young people’s experiences of gender inequality. Check out our website.
“Are you all comfortable when I say the words oral sex?” Drawing the words out with an almost sadistic smile on his face, this was how a former teacher of mine once addressed our year 9 class. His question was followed by nervous giggles and embarrassed coughing and left us squirming in our seats as we tried to look anywhere but at his incredibly tight trousers. Needless to say, we were not exactly thrilled by the idea of discussing the topic with our RE teacher. This, and a cartoon video of a sperm meeting an egg, was the extent of my sex and relationships education at school. A handful of other classes were at least treated to a condom demonstration, but sexual consent, pornography, LGBTQ relationships, violence against women and girls, what constitutes a healthy relationship and online safety? Not a mention. Sadly this is not unusual, as the government deem only some aspects of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) important enough to be compulsory in comprehensive schools; namely those that are part of the national curriculum for science and therefore do not explore healthy relationships or issues related to gender inequality. And in private schools and academies SRE can be missed out altogether.
So why is it so important that schools, in partnership with experts in the field, provide comprehensive and appropriate SRE for all their pupils?