ERIC Number: EJ1410079
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1468-1811
EISSN: EISSN-1472-0825
Teachers' Perspectives on Relationships and Sex Education Lessons in England
Peter Cumper; Sarah Adams; Kerry Onyejekwe; Michelle O'Reilly
Sex Education: Sexuality, Society and Learning, v24 n2 p238-254 2024
Recent changes to the law in England require all primary schools to teach Relationships Education and all secondary schools to teach Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). Our focus in this article is on the voices of teachers and other educational professionals in relation to this change. Discussion in three focus groups held with 16 educational professionals, indicated concerns regarding some of the challenges associated with the implementation of the new legal requirements, as well as recognising fresh opportunities afforded to teachers for engaging with children and young people. Through analysis, it was noted that participants considered how lessons on relationships and sex should cover LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, others) issues, with strategies advanced for building bridges between schools and parents/communities. Our research indicates a difference between the importance of Relationships Education/RSE and the perceptions of those charged with teaching it, as well as the view that the laudable aims underpinning the new provisions in England will only be realised if appropriate support and training is given to teachers.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Educational Legislation, Elementary School Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Administrators, Required Courses, Sex Education, Relationship, Education, Teacher Empowerment, Curriculum Implementation, Barriers, Opportunities, Learner Engagement, Teacher Participation, Sexual Orientation
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A