Sex Education
Often delivered by a science teacher labelling anatomy, an RE teacher debating abortion or a form tutor showing a video on peer pressure and the internet in PSHE. An awkward either scripted or forced lesson in which neither student nor teacher feel at ease. Their educational relationship shifted.
For many these sex education lessons stigmatised STIs and created fear of pregnancy. There was a lack of talk about pleasure or what real bodies actually look like.
Most people when looking back on their own sex education see that it was not from the sources you would have expected or even hoped. With word of mouth and media being where our sexual informative messages are picked up from. This can be problematic with mixed and often flawed information being accessed and believed.
So much so that we often must later try to unlearn the messages surrounding sex that we absorbed as young people.
This last academic year saw new government policy brought in, updating Relationship and Sex Education. During this same academic year Ofsted published a critical report in which it detailed that their national review findings showing ‘normalised’ sexual harassment in schools and colleges.
Education on positive sexual information was found not in the classroom but on social media and through shared stories.
Many recommendations pointed towards training for staff and more positive and specific lessons for pupils. These lessons must start in primary and develop throughout secondary schools and then continuing in college and universities.
We would not ask a Maths Teacher to teach Drama, and for the same reasons we cannot expect all staff to be both comfortable and equipped to teach Sex Education.
For this reason, I have developed workshops, lessons, and different formats which I can deliver to staff and students. I strive to create a positive, informed approach to Sex, Relationship and Health Education. Looking at subjects from different angles and challenging some of the approaches we have taken before.
Entering schools, colleges, and universities to empower, edify and be involved in the critical development of the future of our sexual society. For young people aged 5+ as well as group workshops for teachers.
Having a separate sex and relationships educator come into your setting and open up conversations with young people, that may otherwise be limited if led by a member of the teaching staff, helps progress.
Working to help rebalance the understanding young people have about sex and relationships that they have absorbed from their dual real life and online realities is vitally important. Reducing shame and embarrassment about these topics is crucial to a ensure positive relationships in the future. Sex Education is an umbrella term for so much more than sex (which itself can be unpacked to explain that sex is not just a penis in a vagina). It is important to break sex ed into different subjects that can be altered for a variety of age groups. For example
Consent
Body changes
Puberty
Sex and society
Sexual activity
Pregnancy
Sexual Health
Contraception
Porn
Social media
Sexism
Female Genital Mutilation
Abortion
Sexual Assault
Anxiety
Body Image
All of these subjects are delivered to include all genders and sexualities. This form of relationship, sex and health education is so much more than just telling young people about sex. It is a complex social understanding. Communication is key and combined with informed choices can have a hugely positive impact.
Looking at the list above think to yourself how much better equipped we would be to live a safer, and confident sexual life if we were armed with this knowledge is a positively educated way using workshops and discussions by specific sex educators. Making better choices, being better prepared and a better understanding of the social situations surrounding sex and relationships. Reducing fear and risk taking.
I deliver a range of workshops and lessons to both staff and students as well as reviewing policies. I can also offer open drop-in sessions for students. My work is bespoke to each setting.