Relationship and Sex Education (RSE), previously called Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), is a form of
sex education
Sex education, also known as sexual education, sexuality education or sex ed, is the instruction of issues relating to human sexuality, including emotional relations and responsibilities, human sexual anatomy, Human sexual activity, sexual acti ...
taught in
UK schools. SRE focuses on exploring the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, having relationships, engaging in sex, and learning about
human sexuality
Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...
and
sexual health
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a field of research, healthcare, and social activism that explores the health of an individual's reproductive system and sexual wellbeing during all stages of their life.
The term can also be further de ...
.
[UK DofE. Sex and Relationship Education Guidance.]
On 1 March 2017 the UK Minister for Education
Justine Greening MP released a statement that in the UK that the term Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) would be changed to Relationship and Sex Education (RSE).
United Kingdom
Sex and Relationship Education is designed to equip children and young people with the information, skills and values to have safe, fulfilling and enjoyable relationships and to take responsibility for their sexual health and well-being.
[ The private areas of the body and the scientific names for body parts are taught to some as young as age four.
The UK ]Learning and Skills Act 2000
The Learning and Skills Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It made changes in the funding and administration of further education, and of work-based learning (or apprenticeships) for young people, within England and Wale ...
requires that:[FPA. Sex and relationships education.]
*young people learn about the nature of marriage and its importance for family life and bringing up children.
*young people are protected from teaching and materials which are inappropriate, having regard to the age and the religious and cultural background of the pupils concerned.
*school governing bodies have regard for the guidance.
*parents have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of SRE provided outside national curriculum science.
Following sustained political pressure, in March 2017 it was announced by the Department for Education (DFE) that from September 2019 Relationship Education (RE) in primary schools and Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) in secondary schools will be made mandatory in England by the UK government.
Australia
The Victorian Government
The Victoria State Government, also referred to as just the Victorian Government, is the state-level authority for Victoria, Australia. Like all state governments, it is formed by three independent branches: the executive, the judicial, and th ...
(Australia) developed a policy for the promotion of Health and Human Relations Education in schools in 1980 that was introduced into the State's primary and secondary schools during 1981.Norman Lacy
Norman Henry Lacy (born 25 October 1941) is a former Australian politician, who was a Victorian Government Minister from May 1979 to April 1982 who grew up in Richmond, Victoria and three times represented his state at national under age basket ...
MP, Minister for Educational Services from 1979-1982.
A ''Consultative Council for Health and Human Relations Education'' was established in December 1980 under the chairmanship of Dame Margaret Blackwood
Dame Margaret Blackwood (26 April 1909 – 1 June 1986) was an Australian botanist and geneticist. She attended the University of Melbourne and lectured there for the majority of her career, becoming deputy chancellor after her academic retirem ...
; its members possessed considerable expertise in the area.
The Council had three major functions:
# to advise and to be consulted on all aspects of Health and Human Relations' Education in schools;
# to develop, for consideration of the Government, appropriate curriculum for schools;
# to advise and recommend the standards for in-service courses for teachers and relevant members of the school community.
Support services for the Consultative Council were provided by a new Health and Human Relations Unit within the ''Special Services Division'' of the ''Education Department of Victoria'' and was responsible for the implementation of the Government's policy and guidelines in this area. The Unit advised principals, school councils, teachers, parents, tertiary institutions and others in all aspects of ''Health and Human Relations Education''.
In 1981 the Consultative Council recommended the adoption of a set of guidelines for the provision of ''Health and Human Relations Education'' in schools as well as a Curriculum Statement to assist schools in the development of their programs. These were presented to the Victorian Cabinet in December 1981 and adopted as Government policy.
Notes
References
*
*{{Cite web, url=http://www.fpa.org.uk/professionals/factsheets/sre, title=Sex and relationships education, publisher=FPA, accessdate=15 June 2012
Sex education in the United Kingdom