The school’s approach is to integrate P.S.H.E. within the normal school curriculum and to invite external “experts” into school to discuss P.S.H.E. issues as appropriate, e.g. Road Safety, Nutrition, Sex Education, “Stranger Danger” etc. The potentially sensitive area that the governors, by law, must have a policy for is sex education. The school’s sex education policy as approved in May 1997 is published below.
Background Information
This policy is intended to relate to Y5 and Y6 pupils. Other year groups follow National Curriculum Programmes of Study for Science in particular AT2 - Life Processes. Within our catchment area children come from varied backgrounds and a wide social mix.
Rationale
Longwell Green Primary School believes that Sex Education in this school will be developmental and a foundation for further work in secondary school.
Aims
Sex Education in this school will contribute to the requirement of the 1988 Education Reform Act which states that the school curriculum should be one which:
a) Promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society; and
b) Prepares such pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.
The school will work towards this aim in partnership with parents.
Moral and Values Framework
The Sex Education programme will reflect the school ethos and demonstrate and encourage the following values:
- Respect for self
- Respect for others
- Responsibility for their families, friends, school and wider community
Implementation
- In the context of this policy, sex education is referring to “The Facts of Life”. However sex education is not an isolated programme, but a part of the schools overall PSHE programme
- Parents will be informed prior to the set educational part of the PHSE Programme being shared with pupils
- It is planned that the class teacher be present throughout the sex education lessons.
- Sometimes a child will ask an explicit or difficult question in the classroom. Questions do not have to be answered directly, and can be addressed individually later. This school believes that individual teachers must use their skill and discretion in these situations and refer to the Headteacher if they are concerned.
- We aim to deliver this part of the PHSE programme in the latter part of each academic year.
Opting Out Procedure
Should parents not wish their child to participate in this aspect of the curriculum, they should discuss the matter with the Headteacher in order that all the issues relating to “opting out” may be explored e.g. alternative supervision arrangements, and peer group attitudes.
Acknowledgement
This policy very closely follows the guidance published by the National Children’s Bureau “Development and Reviewing a School Sex Education Policy” 1994.
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