RSE Programme
There are some subjects which are, rightly, particularly sensitive in our culture. Statutory guidance calls us to help our school children understand that there are a variety of family units in our society, and to be tolerant of all persons whatever their situation – respecting the dignity of all. This is completely in keeping with Catholic ethos, and is traditionally a great strength of our school.
- We are involved in relationships and sex education precisely because of our belief in the unique dignity of the human person made in the image and likeness of God. This insight underpins our approach to all education.
- Our approach to RSE is rooted in the Catholic Church’s teaching on the human person and presented in a positive framework of Christian ideals.
- RSE has an important role to play in helping our pupils to become happy and fulfilled adults who are capable of forming long-lasting friendships and committed intimate relationships.
- As a consequence of our belief that we are made in the image and likeness of God, gender and sexuality are seen as a gift of God’s which reflect God’s beauty and share in the Divine creativity. RSE, therefore, will be placed firmly within the context of relationship as it is there that sexuality grows and develops.
- All RSE will be in accordance with the moral teaching of the Catholic Church, emphasising the central importance of marriage and the family while acknowledging that all pupils have a fundamental right to have their life respected whatever household they come from.
- The idea of ‘virtue’ is central. The virtues equip us to better love God and our neighbour; in other words, to live more effectively as human beings.
- We commit ourselves to provide “positive and prudent sexual education” for our pupils, compatible with their physical, cognitive, psychological, and spiritual maturity, and rooted in a Catholic vision of education and the human person.
Our RSE programme understands sexuality in its fullest sense: we are sexual beings in our biology, our psychology, our spirituality and in how we relate to others socially. Learning to respect sexuality is important to becoming a balanced individual, one who is able to mix freely and form lasting friendships. These help to prepare for marriage and for bringing up children in the future.
Our RSE programme includes: understanding oneself as a human person, recognising and learning to master emotions in a positive way, learning the Golden Rule of treating others as one wishes to be treated, appreciating the differences and complementarities between the sexes, understanding the difference between loving and using people, understanding the concepts of “consent” and harassment” and learning how to positively deal with these circumstances.
Throughout the programme, our pupils are taught to value the meaning of sexuality and to build positive relationship with respect to everyone.
Among other resources, we use a number of resources in the teaching of RSE.
For guidance on what is required by law in England, Scotland, and Wales, please see:
For a detailed insight into our RSE policy, please refer to the school’s policies section.
