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Curriculum

The aims of relationships and sex education (RSE) at Horizons Academy Bexley is to:

  • Provide a framework in which sensitive discussions can take place
  • Prepare pupils for puberty, and give them an understanding of sexual development and the importance of health and hygiene
  • Help pupils develop feelings of self-respect, confidence and empathy
  • Create a positive culture around issues of sexuality and relationships
  • Teach pupils the correct vocabulary to describe themselves and their bodies
  • Teach pupils how RSE relates to Horizon’s ethos and values. 

Our RSE curriculum is set out in the policy below, but we may need to adapt it as and when necessary.

We have developed the curriculum in consultation with parents, pupils and staff, and taking into account the age, developmental stage, needs and feelings of our pupils. If pupils ask questions outside the scope of this policy, teachers will respond in an appropriate manner so that pupils are fully informed and don’t seek answers online.

Primary sex education is not compulsory in primary schools – it is up to your school to determine whether you need to cover any additional content on sex education to meet the needs of your pupils. If your school decides to cover this, please include the following statement which you can add or adapt according to your pupils’ needs.

Primary sex education will focus on:

  • Preparing boys and girls for the changes that adolescence brings
  • How a baby is conceived and born

The delivery of RSE is a key focus at Horizons Academy.

The following outlines:

  • How we teach RSE-related topics within our curriculum
  • How we consider the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs
  • When we teach the different aspects of sex education 

RSE is taught within the personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education curriculum which has been split into RSE (Relationship Sex Education) and HE (health education). Biological aspects of RSE are taught within both the RSE curriculum and the science curriculum. 

Primary: 

Relationships education focuses on teaching the fundamental building blocks and characteristics of positive relationships including:

  • Families and people who care for me
  • Caring friendships
  • Respectful relationships
  • Online relationships
  • Being safe

For more information about our RSE curriculum, see Appendices 1 and 2.

Secondary: 

RSE focuses on giving young people the information they need to help them develop healthy, nurturing relationships of all kinds including:

  • Families
  • Respectful relationships, including friendships
  • Online and media
  • Being safe
  • Intimate and sexual relationships, including sexual health

For more information about our RSE curriculum, see Appendices 1 and 2.

These areas of learning are taught within the context of family life, taking care to make sure that there is no stigmatisation of children based on their home circumstances (families can include single parent families, LGBT parents, families headed by grandparents, adoptive parents and foster parents/carers, amongst other structures), along with reflecting sensitively that some children may have a different structure of support around them (for example, looked-after children or young carers).

We will also be mindful of the law and legal requirements, taking care not to condone or encourage illegal political activity, such as violent action against people, criminal damage to property, hate crime, terrorism or the illegal use of drugs - this will be covered more extensively in HE (Health Education).

For more information about RSHE delivery at Horizons Academy, please see our policy by clicking here.