Sex Education Policy - St John's School and Community College

St John’s School and Community College, Marlborough
SCHOOL SEX EDUCATION POLICY
1. Aims of Sex Education
St John’s School and Community College believes that sex education is an educational
entitlement of all pupils and an integral part of each pupil’s emergence into adulthood.
We aim:
To encourage personal responsibility in all forms of behaviour;
To encourage self-esteem;
To encourage respect and consideration for others;
To provide support and information for young people and their parents;
To promote openness and discussion on related issues in and out of school.
The aim of this policy is to clearly communicate to staff, parents, visitors, the community and
pupils the manner in which sex education will be delivered in this school.
2. Content
Sex Education provides knowledge and encourages the acquisition of skills and attitudes, which
allows pupils to manage their lives in a responsible and healthy way.
a) Knowledge and information
Key Stage 3 Key Stage 4 – see appendix 1
b) Values and beliefs
Pupils will be encouraged to consider the importance of the following values:
Respect and valuing themselves and others;
Understanding and sensitivity towards the needs and views of others;
Responsibility for their own actions;
Responsibility to the school, their family and the wider community.
c) Skills and abilities
Pupils will be helped to develop the following skills:
Communication including the making and keeping of relationships;
Assertiveness;
Decision-making;
Recognising and using opportunities to develop a healthy lifestyle.

3. Organisation
a) Sex Education is co-ordinated by the Director of Health. The Well-being and Science teams are
responsible for the overall planning, implementation and review of the sex education
programme.
b) Delivery is through
Planned aspects within the Science, Well Being and Philosophy and Religion curricula;
Addressing moral and ethical issues which may arise from apparently unrelated topics in all
subjects. Within this category, as long as any discussion takes place within the context of
the subject, it will not be deemed to be part of the sex education programme and therefore
not subject to the parental right of withdrawal.
Assemblies which may involve guest speakers.
c) Teaching approaches
A variety of approaches are used to give pupils relevant information; to enable moral issues to
be explored through discussion; and to acquire appropriate skills.
d) Pupil groupings
Pupils are taught in mixed ability and gender groups.
e) Resources
Materials – a range of teaching resources is available to teachers and for inspection by
parents through the Director of Health.
Staff – All staff are asked to teach within the school’s value framework as set out in
paragraph 2(b).
4. Specific Issues
See attached sheet.
5. Monitoring and Review
a) Sex education will be monitored by the Director of Health
b) The full policy will be made available to all parents/guardians when their child enters the school.
c) The Chair of the ECM committee has a link role between the school and the governing body
APPENDICIES:
• Overview of the scheme of work
• Sheet of Specific Issues
Reviewed: June 2011
Next Review: January 2013
Link Governor: Chair of ECM committee
Responsibility: ANS

Scheme of Work
St John’s School and Community College, Marlborough
SCHOOL SEX EDUCATION POLICY
APPENDIX 1
Science Key Stage 3 Students should be taught:
About the physical and emotional changes that take place during
adolescence;
About the human reproductive system, including the menstrual cycle
and fertilisation;
How the foetus develops in the uterus, including the role of the
placenta.
Key Stage 4
Students should be taught:
The way in which hormonal control occurs, including the effects of
sex hormones;
Some medical uses of hormones, including the control and
promotion of fertility;
How gender is determined in humans;
That sexual reproduction is a source of genetic variation, while
asexual reproduction produces clones.
Sex Education
Based on Sex Education Curriculum KS3 and 4
The sex education programme at St John’s will include lessons assemblies and information on the
following, appropriate to the age and understanding of the pupils. The content will be delivered
progressively through the Key Stages; the list below is not intended to represent an order of priorities
or to be exhaustive:
Key Stage 3
Adolescence and puberty – growing up;
Menstruation;
Personal relationships – loving and caring;
Problems in relationships;
Conception, pregnancy;
Contraception (preventative health care);
Biological aspects of reproduction;
Sexually transmitted infections- including HIV and AIDS;
Sexuality.
Key Stage 4
Moral and values framework;
Partnership, marriage and divorce;
The impact of loss separation and bereavement;
Abortion;
Sexually transmitted diseases – including HIV and AIDS;
Parenthood and childcare;
The law on sexual behavior.

St John’s School and Community College, Marlborough
SCHOOL SEX EDUCATION POLICY
SPECIFIC ISSUES
APPENDIX 2
The following issues may occur as part of sex education. Staff, parents and students need to understand the
school’s procedures.
1. Confidentiality and advice
Students will be offered sensitive and appropriate support;
Students will be made aware that some information cannot be held as confidential;
Students will be made aware that if certain disclosures are made certain actions will ensue.
All adults will adhere to the following procedure:
a) Disclosure or suspicion of possible abuse -
The school’s child protection procedures will be invoked.
b) Disclosure of pregnancy or advice on contraception -
It is hoped that the following procedure will ensure that students know that they can talk to an adult
in the school and that they will be supported.
Professional information and guidance may be sought from a health professional.
The school will always encourage students to talk to their parents first:
Students should be asked whether they can tell their parent(s)/guardian(s) and whether they
want help in doing so. This disclosure to home will need to be checked;
If students refuse to tell their parent(s)/guardian(s) the school should refer them to a health
professional;
The member of staff should report the incident to the Headteacher who will consult with the
health professional about informing the parent(s)/guardian(s).
2. Family life
The value of family life is an important aspect, which will be approached largely through a consideration of
the relationships between the group of people, with an emphasis on stability, respect, caring and support.
3. As part of the sex education programme issues of contraception, HIV/AIDS, sexuality and abortion are
addressed. Facts are presented in an objective and balanced way, with the students being encouraged to
consider their attitudes and values within the framework set out in paragraph 2(b) of the main policy.
They will be made aware of the difference between fact, opinion and religious belief.
4. Complaint procedure
Any complaints about the sex education curriculum should be made to the Headteacher who will report
to the school governing body via the Chair of the ECM committee.
5. Parental partnership
Under the Education Act 1993 parents/guardians have the right to withdraw their children from all or
part of the sex education programme. Parents/Guardians wishing to exercise that right are asked to make
an appointment to meet the Headteacher or delegated teacher to discuss the issues, they are under no
obligation to do so. Once a child has been withdrawn they cannot take part in later sex education
without parental approval.
The school newsletter can be used to inform parents/guardians of developments in the area of sex
education within the school. It is hoped that the newsletter will help promote an open dialogue at home
about related issues being dealt with in the sex education curriculum.