Parents and Carers,
As a part of your child’s education at Co-op Academy Priesthorpe, we promote personal
wellbeing and development through a comprehensive Personal, Social, Health and
Economic (PSHE) education programme. PSHE education is the curriculum subject that
contributes to personal development by giving young people the knowledge, understanding,
attitudes and practical skills to live safe, healthy, productive lives and meet their full potential.

PSHE education is taught throughout the school in every year group and is monitored and
reviewed regularly by the staff and governing body. Please visit the school’s website for
more detail about our PSHE curriculum. All PSHE teaching takes place in a safe learning
environment and is underpinned by our school ethos and values.

I am writing to let you know that next half -term, your child’s class will be taking part in
lessons which will focus on the relationships and sex education (RSE) aspect of this
programme. RSE lessons in year 8 will include teaching about: Healthy relationships;
forming new partnerships including marriage; love, romantic relationships, and sexual
attraction; consent in relationships and the law; developing self-esteem and confidence.
Pupils will also have opportunities to ask questions that help prepare them for relationships
of all kinds in the modern world.

RSE makes an essential and significant contribution to safeguarding children and young
people during their school-age years and into the future. It enables them to understand their
physical and emotional development and take increasing responsibility for their own health
and wellbeing.

Co-op Academy Priesthorpe recognises that parents/carers are the prime educators for their
children on PSHE education matters and the teaching of this subject aims to be
complementary and sensitive to this role. As a school community, we are committed to
working in partnership with parents/carers and we would like to invite you to view the Co-op
Academy Priesthorpe’s RSE Policy, available on our school’s website, to enable you to find
out more about our relationships and sex education programme of study. We welcome any
feedback and/or questions you may have about our curriculum provision for RSE. If you
would like to know more about what your child will learn, view the materials and resources
being used in lessons or discover how you can best support your child to discuss these
topics at home, please get in touch and we will arrange an appointment for you.

There is no right to withdraw your child from relationships education at secondary level, but
you do have a right to withdraw your child from the sex education aspects, delivered as part
of the RSE curriculum. With regards to your right to withdraw your child I would like to refer
you to the RSE Policy, section 8: The right to withdraw.

Parents/carers have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex
education delivered as part of statutory RSE. Before granting any such request the head
teacher/senior leader will discuss the request with parents/carers and, as appropriate, with
the student to ensure that their wishes are understood and to clarify the nature and purpose
of the curriculum. The school will document this process to ensure a record is kept.

Please could you contact the school to arrange a meeting with our Assistant Principal Mrs
Rebeka Gupta, to discuss your wishes and enable us to answer any questions or concerns
you have.

Yours faithfully,

Mrs Tanvir
PSHE lead teacher