Parent / Carer Information
Sex Education
All young people, whatever their ability, develop physically and
emotionally, and need to be helped to understand their bodies and their
feelings.
Sex education helps our pupils’ overall development, confidence and
self-esteem. Legislation
now says that a compulsory programme of Sex Education including teaching
about HIV and AIDS and other STDs must be provided for all pupils of
secondary age (11+), whatever type of school they attend.
This law also gives parents the right to
withdraw their children from Sex Education at any age, except those parts
that are in the National Curriculum Science syllabus. The
Sex Education programme we offer at
Highfield
School
has been carefully planned to take account of students’ age, maturity and
physical development.
It will develop slowly throughout the time
young people are in school, using well-proven methods that allows time for
repetition, practice of relevant skills, and reflection.
It will be fully and consistently evaluated.
In Key Stage 3
it will be both integrated into the whole curriculum, and taught separately.
Areas covered will be: Self-awareness,
identifying and naming body parts,
gender,
family and friends,
making decisions, growing and changing, preparation for puberty and periods
(at appropriate age).
For Year 10/11 Students
age appropriate work will continue according to their needs and
competencies. Areas
covered will be:
sexual intimacy; sexual relations;
safer sex; sexually transmitted
diseases, including AIDS; pregnancy, birth and contraception.
The programme
will be taught by class teachers, sometimes working together, and with
support staff.
Students will sometimes be taught in separate
gender groups, or in small groups according to their maturity and
understanding. The Community School Nurse Service also provides very
valuable input to this area of work in school. We
shall work closely with parents.
We shall consult with
you about the Sex Education programme your child will receive and whether
you have any religious views you would like us to respect. Once
a year we shall invite all parents to a meeting where you can discuss
together any anxieties you may have about your child’s growth and physical
development.
This will be part of your child’s Annual Review
Meeting. You
will be welcome to come to school at any time to discuss any of these
matters with the Headteacher.
Appointments can be made via the School Office.
