Relationships and Sex Education Written Statement

At Bishop Ridley, children’s wellbeing, happiness and safety are our first priority, and PSHE is the key vehicle through which we share this with children. We regard Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) as an important, integral component of the PSHE curriculum which it is central to our approach and at the core of our vision.

At Bishop Ridley, our approach to Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) follows that of the Church of England Education Office in that it seeks to be faith-sensitive and inclusive. It is underpinned by two key Biblical passages:

“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them” (Genesis 2:7)

“I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness” (John 10:10)

At Bishop Ridley Church of England Primary School, everyone will be treated with dignity as all people who are made in the image of God and are loved equally by God.

All pupils have a right to an education which enables them to flourish and is set in a learning community where differences of lifestyle and opinion (within that which is permissible under UK law) are treated with dignity and respect; where bullying of all kinds is eliminated; and where they are free to be themselves and fulfil their potential without fear.

Our school seeks to ensure that the RSE curriculum protects, informs and nurtures all pupils. It clearly differentiates between factual teaching (biology, medicine, the law, marriage, different types of families and the composition of society) and moral teaching about relationships and values, recognising that the distinction can be easily blurred and that there needs to be discernment about the manner in which this is taught. We teach RSE within a moral (but not moralistic) framework.

RSE in Bishop Ridley Church of England Primary School is about what constitutes wellbeing and loving care for ourselves (Physical and Mental Health Education), how we show loving care for others (Relationships Education) and, when at an appropriate age and stage in life, how we show loving care to those we choose to be intimate with, including within marriage (Sex Education).

Through RSE we aim to support children and young people through a journey of physical, emotional and moral development via the teaching of essential knowledge, skills and values within the framework of the law and provisions of the Equality Act, 2010.

Further information can be found in our RSE policy located in the policies section: