The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

The Optimus blog

The blog that inspires leaders in the UK education sector

Sex and relationship education

Rebecca Jennings

Tailoring your RSHE curriculum

The DfE has announced a review of RSHE to be carried out by the end of this year. Rebecca Jennings discusses the concerns raised and how to enhance RSHE delivery. As an RSHE subject matter expert, my recent work with the DfE has been to support staff by creating staff training modules around the...
Read more...
Lucy Marcovitch

Five ways to teach RSHE with confidence

Guest blogger Lucy Marcovitch, writer, educator and series editor Discovery Education’s Health and Relationships programme shares her top five strategies for building confidence in teaching relationships, sex and health education. No matter how good a school’s RSHE provision might be, there is...
Read more...
Liz Worthen

What can we do about sexual harassment in schools?

Liz Worthen shares her key takeaways from the Delivering Statutory RSE conference and signposts useful resources. Not surprisingly, one of the main topics for discussion on the part of both speakers and delegates at the Delivering Statutory RSE conference was sexual harassment. Of course, child-on-...
Read more...
Gareth D Morewood

Autism and sexual health: need it be a challenge?

Understanding sexuality and relationships can be one of the most challenging areas for a young person with ASC. Here are some resources to support a proactive approach. In an earlier post, I suggested some ‘go-to’ books for a SENCO’s autism reading list. One book I chose is the Independent Woman's...
Read more...
Jack Procter-Blain

Online pornography: prevent or educate?

The Digital Economy Bill takes the government’s preventative approach to online safeguarding a step further. However, is restricting access the right way to go? One childhood memory I have is of lingering in the back aisles of Blockbuster, waiting for my mum to buy me the new Grand Theft Auto video...
Read more...
Jack Procter-Blain

Are you clear on consent? Take the quiz!

Do you know the law when it comes to sex and relationships? Test your knowledge with this short quiz. The law clearly states that sexual intercourse without consent is illegal, and failing to make pupils aware of this can often put them at risk of becoming victims of rape or sexual assault. RSE...
Read more...
Andrew Moffat

My top 5 equality picture books for primary

To prepare children for life in modern Britain, schools need to teach equality, including LGBT equality. Andrew Moffat lists 5 books he’s used to explore differences and sexual orientation with primary school pupils. As they grow up, children will meet people who identify as LGBT and some will grow...
Read more...
Evie Prysor-Jones

How to talk to parents about sex education

Sex and relationships education can be a controversial topic for some parents. Stephen De Silva's template letter will help explain your school's PSHE curriculum. Personal, social and health education (PSHE), and sex and relationship education (SRE) in particular, is of increasing importance for...
Read more...
Andrew Moffat

'No Outsiders In Our School' - using assemblies to create a school ethos of acceptance

Dark trends and tragic events make the teaching of LGBT equality even more essential. Andrew Moffat explains how assemblies can be a useful platform. Why give an assembly? Assemblies are a great tool to use when creating the school ethos around equality. The assembly is a place where the code of...
Read more...
Gareth D Morewood

Why we shouldn’t forget SRE for pupils with SEND

To discuss why sex and relationship education is just as important for pupils with SEND, SENCo Gareth D Morewood interviews Martin Jones, Head of Beliefs and Values at Priestnall School. In March 2015 the Guardian published an article on Pupils with learning difficulties are being denied their...
Read more...