PD - Relationships, Sex and Health Education
Building healthy relationships, making informed choices and staying safe.
Our Approach to Relationships, Sex and Health Education
At Ferryhill School, we believe that high-quality Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) is essential in preparing young people for life, both now and in the future.
Our RSHE curriculum forms an important part of our wider Personal Development programme and reflects our school values of Integrity, Creativity and Excellence.
We recognise that young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world, both online and offline. Our curriculum provides students with the knowledge, understanding, confidence and practical skills needed to develop healthy relationships, look after their physical and mental wellbeing, recognise risks and make informed decisions.
Through our carefully planned programme, we aim to help students:
Build and maintain healthy, positive and respectful relationships.
Understand consent, personal boundaries and mutual respect.
Recognise unhealthy relationships, coercion, sexual harassment and abuse.
Make informed decisions about their physical, emotional and sexual health.
Develop confidence, resilience and responsible decision-making skills.
Recognise online risks and challenge harmful influences and misinformation.
Respect differences, challenge stereotypes and treat others with dignity.
Know when, where and how to access reliable advice and support.
Our approach reflects our commitment that Everyone is Welcome. Teaching is inclusive, age-appropriate, respectful and adapted to meet the different needs of our students.
We want every student to leave Ferryhill School with the confidence and understanding to build positive relationships, protect their wellbeing and make informed choices throughout their lives.
What Is RSHE?
Relationships, Sex and Health Education brings together three important areas of learning.
Relationships Education
Students learn about developing and maintaining healthy relationships with family members, friends and others.
Learning includes:
Healthy friendships, family relationships and romantic relationships.
Respect, kindness, trust and effective communication.
Consent, personal boundaries and privacy.
Recognising unhealthy, controlling or abusive behaviour.
Sexual harassment, sexual violence and exploitation.
Online relationships, digital communication and personal safety.
Respecting different backgrounds, beliefs and family structures.
Knowing how to seek support when relationships become difficult or unsafe.
Sex Education
Students receive age-appropriate, factual education about sexual relationships, sexual health and the responsibilities associated with intimate relationships.
Learning includes:
Consent, choice and personal boundaries.
Healthy and respectful intimate relationships.
Contraception and pregnancy prevention.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
Condom use and protecting sexual health.
Reproductive health, fertility and pregnancy.
Recognising sexual pressure, coercion and exploitation.
Understanding the influence of pornography and online sexual content.
Accessing reliable sexual health advice and confidential services.
Health Education
Students develop the knowledge and skills needed to make positive decisions about their physical and mental health.
Learning includes:
Mental health, emotional wellbeing and resilience.
Self-esteem, body image and managing emotions.
Healthy eating, physical activity and sleep.
Puberty, personal hygiene and menstrual health.
Alcohol, smoking, vaping and drugs.
Recognising risks and making safer choices.
First aid and responding to emergencies.
Understanding health services and knowing where to access support.
Our RSHE Curriculum: Years 7–11
Our RSHE curriculum follows a carefully planned, progressive approach.
Students revisit important topics throughout their time at Ferryhill, developing greater knowledge, understanding and skills as they mature.
Teaching builds upon previous learning, helping students explore increasingly complex situations, develop confidence and apply their understanding to real-life decisions.
The following provides an overview of our planned RSHE curriculum for 2026/27.
Year 7 – Understanding Ourselves and Building Healthy Relationships
Students begin by exploring their emotions, physical development, friendships and relationships with others.
They develop an understanding of the importance of looking after their health, respecting personal boundaries and recognising positive and negative behaviours in relationships.
Key learning includes:
Understanding emotions and developing resilience.
Looking after physical and mental wellbeing.
Healthy eating, exercise, sleep and personal hygiene.
Puberty, reproductive systems and menstruation.
Understanding healthy friendships and relationships.
Respecting privacy, personal space and boundaries.
Recognising and challenging sexual harassment.
Knowing when and where to seek support.
Our aim: To help students understand themselves, build positive relationships and develop confidence in managing the physical and emotional changes of adolescence.
Year 8 – Healthy Choices and Respectful Relationships
Students build upon their understanding of relationships, health and personal safety.
They explore how emotions, peer influence, online experiences and personal choices can affect their wellbeing and relationships.
Key learning includes:
Mental wellbeing and developing a positive mindset.
Positive body image and self-esteem.
Alcohol, drugs and their impact on health.
Vaccination and protecting personal health.
Healthy family relationships and friendships.
Romantic feelings and communicating respectfully.
Managing conflict and recognising controlling behaviour.
Sexual harassment and the importance of being an active bystander.
Personal safety, including awareness of female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage and honour-based abuse.
Online relationships, sharing intimate content and digital wellbeing.
Our aim: To help students recognise healthy and unhealthy behaviours, understand personal risks and develop the confidence to make positive decisions.
Year 9 – Consent, Relationships and Personal Safety
Students explore increasingly complex relationships and develop a deeper understanding of consent, respect and personal responsibility.
They consider how peer pressure, stereotypes, social expectations and online influences can affect their decisions and relationships.
Key learning includes:
Emotional wellbeing and managing complex emotions.
Body image and hormonal changes.
Romantic relationships and readiness for intimacy.
Understanding sexual consent and personal boundaries.
Recognising coercion, exploitation and unhealthy pressure.
Understanding the impact of sexism and discrimination.
Online influences, deepfakes and harmful digital content.
Recognising risks and knowing how to report concerns.
Developing respectful communication and decision-making skills.
Our aim: To help students understand the importance of consent, recognise pressure and coercion, and develop the confidence to establish and communicate healthy boundaries.
Year 10 – Healthy Intimate Relationships and Responsible Choices
Students deepen their understanding of healthy intimate relationships, sexual consent, personal responsibility and the potential consequences of their decisions.
They examine the influence of gender stereotypes, social expectations and harmful behaviours on relationships and personal safety.
Key learning includes:
Mental wellbeing and healthy coping strategies.
Alcohol, smoking, vaping and drug-related risks.
Essential first aid and life-saving skills.
Marriage, civil partnerships and commitment.
Communicating choices about sex and intimacy.
Understanding ongoing and freely given consent.
Gender stereotypes and their relationship with sexual violence.
Recognising sexual harassment, sexual violence and coercive behaviour.
Preventing controlling behaviour in relationships.
Challenging harmful attitudes and respecting personal boundaries.
Additional planned sexual health education will focus on contraception, condoms, sexually transmitted infections and accessing confidential sexual health services.
Our aim: To help students understand their rights and responsibilities in relationships, make informed decisions and recognise the importance of protecting their own health and the wellbeing of others.
Year 11 – Healthy Relationships and Preparing for Adulthood
Students consolidate their understanding of relationships, health and personal safety as they prepare for greater independence.
They explore more complex issues associated with intimate relationships, reproductive health and the choices and responsibilities involved in adult life.
Key learning includes:
Recognising the characteristics of healthy romantic relationships.
Managing differences and communicating effectively with partners.
Understanding consent in intimate situations.
Recognising how alcohol and drugs can affect decisions about intimacy.
Understanding the influence of online cultures and sexual content.
Recognising unrealistic or harmful expectations within relationships.
Reproductive health and issues affecting female bodies.
Fertility, infertility and miscarriage.
Pregnancy, parenting and pregnancy choices.
Understanding different religious and ethical perspectives.
Knowing how to access appropriate health advice and support.
Our aim: To prepare students for greater independence by helping them develop the knowledge, confidence and responsibility needed to build healthy relationships and make informed decisions about their future.
How Is RSHE Delivered?
RSHE is delivered through our wider Personal Development programme, supported by specialist teaching, tutor activities, assemblies and learning across the curriculum.
Dedicated Personal Development Lessons
Students in Years 7–11 receive planned Personal Development education through our dedicated Wednesday Period 6 programme.
These one-hour lessons provide structured opportunities to develop knowledge, explore real-life situations, discuss important issues and practise decision-making and communication skills.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that learning develops progressively throughout secondary school.
Tutor Time and Assemblies
Our tutor programme and assemblies reinforce important messages about respectful relationships, personal safety, health, wellbeing and responsible behaviour.
Students are encouraged to reflect on their choices, understand different perspectives and recognise the importance of treating others with dignity and respect.
Life Talks – Years 10 and 11
Students in Years 10 and 11 also participate in our Life Talks programme.
Life Talks provides opportunities for students to explore real-life scenarios and discuss important issues affecting young people.
Topics include healthy relationships, consent, peer pressure, sexual harassment, controlling behaviour, online conduct and challenging harmful attitudes.
Through these discussions, students also develop their oracy skills by learning to communicate clearly, listen actively, consider different perspectives and respond respectfully.
Specialist Relationships and Sex Education – March 2027
As part of our commitment to providing high-quality Relationships and Sex Education, Ferryhill School works with specialist external providers to complement our classroom teaching.
In March 2027, specialist Relationships and Sex Education sessions are planned for students in Years 9, 10 and 11, delivered by Rabbits Relationships and Sex Education Ltd (Rabbits RSE).
Rabbits RSE provides specialist teaching and workshops designed to support schools in delivering important relationships and sex education topics.
The following sessions are proposed for March 2027:
Year 9 – Consent, Coercion and Healthy Relationships
Students will build upon their existing understanding of consent, exploring how to recognise pressure, communicate personal boundaries and respond to unhealthy or coercive situations.
Year 10 – Sexual Health: STIs, Condoms and Contraception
Students will develop their understanding of sexual health, including contraception, sexually transmitted infections, condom use, pregnancy prevention and accessing appropriate sexual health advice and services.
Year 11 – Pornography, Online Influences and Healthy Sexual Relationships
Students will explore how pornography and online sexual content can influence expectations about bodies, relationships, intimacy, consent and respectful behaviour. They will also consider online risks and where to seek support.
These proposed topics will be finalised in consultation with Rabbits RSE to ensure they complement our existing curriculum and meet the needs of each year group.
All external sessions and teaching materials will be reviewed by Ferryhill School in advance to ensure they are age-appropriate, inclusive and consistent with our safeguarding arrangements and statutory guidance.
A member of school staff will remain present during external sessions, and the school retains responsibility for the curriculum and safeguarding.
Parents and carers will receive further information about the planned content before the sessions take place.
Find out more about Rabbits RSE
Learning Across the Curriculum
RSHE is also supported through other subjects and wider school experiences.
Science develops students' understanding of human development, reproduction, puberty and physical health.
Religious Education provides opportunities to explore different beliefs and perspectives relating to relationships, marriage, family life and moral decisions.
Computing and Online Safety develops understanding of digital risks, online relationships, privacy and responsible behaviour online.
Our wider Personal Development curriculum reinforces the importance of respect, equality, inclusion, personal responsibility and healthy relationships throughout school life.
Creating a Safe, Respectful and Inclusive Learning Environment
We recognise that RSHE includes sensitive topics that may raise personal questions or concerns.
Our teaching is planned to be age-appropriate, factual, balanced and respectful of the different backgrounds, beliefs and experiences within our school community.
We aim to create a safe and supportive learning environment where students can explore issues, ask questions and develop understanding without feeling embarrassed or judged.
Students are not expected to disclose personal experiences during lessons.
Teachers establish clear expectations for respectful discussion and respond to questions sensitively, using professional judgement and following safeguarding procedures.
We are committed to ensuring that RSHE is accessible to all students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Teaching materials and approaches are adapted where appropriate to meet individual learning needs.
Our approach reflects the school's commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and our belief that Everyone is Welcome.
Working in Partnership with Parents and Carers
We recognise that parents and carers play an important role in supporting young people's understanding of relationships, health, wellbeing and personal safety.
At Ferryhill School, we are committed to working in partnership with families and providing clear, accessible information about our RSHE curriculum.
We believe that parents and carers should understand what their children are learning, why these topics are important and how they can support conversations at home.
Parents and carers can:
View our RSHE curriculum overview for Years 7–11.
Find out which topics are taught and approximately when.
Request access to the teaching resources used in RSHE lessons, including materials from external providers.
Contact the school with questions or concerns about curriculum content.
Discuss sensitive topics and how they are taught.
Request withdrawal from sex education where the legal right applies.
RSHE Parent and Carer Guide 2026/27
We have produced a parent-friendly guide explaining our Relationships, Sex and Health Education curriculum.
The guide includes an overview of what students learn in each year group, how learning develops throughout secondary school and information about our planned specialist sessions in March 2027.
It also explains how parents and carers can request further information about teaching materials and parental withdrawal arrangements.
RSHE Parent and Carer Guide 2026/27 – Downloadable PDF
For further information about the curriculum, please contact:
Miss Hanson
Personal Development Lead
(Through the school office)
Parents' Right to Request Withdrawal from Sex Education
Relationships, Sex and Health Education is an important and compulsory part of secondary education. However, the legal arrangements for parental withdrawal depend on the content being taught.
Relationships Education and Health Education
Relationships Education and Health Education are compulsory.
Parents and carers do not have the right to withdraw their child from these areas of learning.
Sex Education
Parents and carers have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all sex education delivered as part of Relationships and Sex Education.
This right does not extend to content taught as part of the science curriculum.
Before a decision is made, the Headteacher will discuss the request with parents or carers to explain the curriculum, consider the student's circumstances and explore any concerns.
In secondary schools, requests will normally be granted unless exceptional circumstances apply.
From three terms before a student turns 16, they can choose to receive sex education even if a parent or carer has previously requested withdrawal.
Where withdrawal is agreed, the school will ensure that appropriate, purposeful alternative education is provided.
Parents and carers wishing to discuss withdrawal should contact the school.
Further details are available in our Relationships and Sex Education Policy.
Supporting Students and Keeping Them Safe
At Ferryhill School, student safety and wellbeing are central to our RSHE provision.
Through our curriculum, students learn to recognise unhealthy or potentially harmful situations, understand their rights and responsibilities, and know when and how to seek help.
We encourage students to speak to a trusted adult if they are worried about a relationship, personal safety, sexual health or anything affecting their wellbeing.
Students can speak to their Form Tutor, Head of Year, a member of the safeguarding team or another trusted member of staff.
Any safeguarding concerns are managed in accordance with the school's safeguarding procedures.
Students and families can also access additional support through our Student Help Centre.
What Do We Want Students to Gain?
By the time students leave Ferryhill School, we want them to:
Understand the characteristics of healthy, safe and respectful relationships.
Recognise the importance of consent, boundaries and mutual respect.
Make informed decisions about their physical, mental and sexual health.
Recognise unhealthy relationships, coercion, harassment and exploitation.
Understand how online influences can affect attitudes, choices and relationships.
Challenge harmful stereotypes, discrimination and misinformation.
Develop resilience, empathy, confidence and personal responsibility.
Know where and how to access reliable information, guidance and support.
Feel prepared to make increasingly independent decisions as they move into adulthood.
Our RSHE curriculum is designed to provide students with knowledge they can use throughout their lives, helping them develop positive relationships, protect their wellbeing and contribute respectfully to wider society.
Further Information and Useful Links
Relationships and Sex Education Policy 2026/27
Our policy outlines our approach to curriculum planning, teaching, safeguarding, inclusion, parental engagement and withdrawal arrangements.
View Ferryhill School Policies
RSHE Parent and Carer Guide 2026/27
A downloadable overview of our Year 7–11 curriculum, specialist provision and information for families.
Student Support
Anti-Bullying at Ferryhill School
Additional Information