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 9 will include teaching about: Healthy relationships; about different types of families and parenting; the readiness for intimacy, the choice to delay sexual activity; capacity to consent; contraception, STIs and negotiating safer sex; 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 teaches children and young people to develop principles, values and attitudes, learn personal and social skills, and increase their knowledge and understanding, to enable them to make informed decisions and healthier life choices.

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.

If you would like to withdraw please email ayesha.tanvir@coopacademies.co.uk 

Yours faithfully,

Mrs A Tanvir
PSHCEE lead teacher