Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Sex and relationships education in schools: come tell us what you think

27 replies

RowanMumsnet · 23/08/2013 13:26

Hello

A while back we ran this survey on sex education, which gave us quite a lot of detail on what MNers think about when and what children should be taught about, sex-wise, in schools (primary and secondary).

This is an issue that we still get asked about a lot, and as our survey was a while ago - and we didn't go into the relationships side of sex ed very much - we thought we'd open this up again to you.

In particular, we're interested in your thoughts about the 'relationships' side of sex and relationships education (SRE) - and whether you think that more/better SRE could lead to people forming healthier relationships (both intimate 'partner' relationships and other social or work-based relationships) as adults. Or do you think that this sort of emotional/relationships education is more a parental responsibility? Or that it would have little bearing on people's emotional lives as adults?

We'd also love to know what you think about the following topic areas. Should they form part of SRE in schools? If so, how should they be addressed, and at roughly what age?

a) sexual consent - how to give it, and how to recognise it - and (conversely) how to say 'no' to things you aren't happy with
b) self-respect and self-esteem, and having respectful attitudes to others
c) what a healthy sexual/emotional relationship looks like
d) porn
e) separate SRE sessions tailored specifically for boys and girls

Plus of course anything else you think of!

Thanks
MNHQ

OP posts:
samonly · 23/08/2013 18:12

whether you think that more/better SRE could lead to people forming healthier relationships (both intimate 'partner' relationships and other social or work-based relationships) as adults.
YES
Or do you think that this sort of emotional/relationships education is more a parental responsibility? Or that it would have little bearing on people's emotional lives as adults?
NO, IT COULD BE ENORMOUSLY INFLUENTIAL TO HAVE LESSONS AT SCHOOL. LOTS OF THINGS ARE PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES THAT SCHOOLS FEEL HAPPY TO HAVE A POP AT TEACHING (E.G. HEALTHY EATING)

a) sexual consent - how to give it, and how to recognise it - and (conversely) how to say 'no' to things you aren't happy with

AT 10/11 AND AGAIN IN SECONDARY 11/12 AND AGAIN 14/15/16
BOYS GO THROUGH PUBERTY SO MUCH LATER THAT WHILE THESE EARLY LESSONS MAYBE LISTENED TO APPROPRIATELY BY GIRLS, THE BOYS ARE STILL SNIGGERING, AND NEED TO HAVE STUFF REPEATED.

b) self-respect and self-esteem, and having respectful attitudes to others
AT 9-10 - YEAR 5 / YEAR 9/10
c) what a healthy sexual/emotional relationship looks like
AT 10-11 - YEAR 6 AND AGAIN YEAR 7 AND YEAR 9
d) porn

YEAR 8,9,10

e) separate SRE sessions tailored specifically for boys and girls
I THINK THAT SEPARATED AND BOTH TOGETHER WOULD BE GOOD.

hardboiled · 23/08/2013 15:35

whether you think that more/better SRE could lead to people forming healthier relationships (both intimate 'partner' relationships and other social or work-based relationships) as adults.
YES
Or do you think that this sort of emotional/relationships education is more a parental responsibility? Or that it would have little bearing on people's emotional lives as adults?
IT IS A SHARED RESPONSABILITY, IT SHOULD BE TAUGHT AT SCHOOL AND AT HOME AT SIMILAR TIMES, COMPLEMENTING EACH OTHER.

a) sexual consent - how to give it, and how to recognise it - and (conversely) how to say 'no' to things you aren't happy with
AT 11-12 - YEAR 7
b) self-respect and self-esteem, and having respectful attitudes to others
AT 9-10 - YEAR 5
c) what a healthy sexual/emotional relationship looks like
AT 10-11 - YEAR 6
d) porn
AT 10-11 - YEAR 6
e) separate SRE sessions tailored specifically for boys and girls
NO, I AM AGAINST THAT. WE NEED OPENESS AND INFORMATION. CHILDREN SHOULD BE TAUGHT THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE TO THE OTHER SEX. KNOWLEDGE OF EACH OTHER WILL LEAD TO GOOD HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.