Schools are cleverly using lessons in the classroom to challenge stereotypes and teach children to respect each other, writes Elizabeth Ivens
The first official guidance for a generation on teaching children about sex, relationships and gender came into force last September after years in the planning, meaning schools can use lessons in the classroom to challenge stereotypes.
As well as making Relationships and Sex Education compulsory in all secondary schools in England, it brought in compulsory Relationships Education for the primary age group for the first time.
Billed as ?putting in place the key building blocks of healthy, respectful relationships?, no-one could have guessed that the year the guidelines came into force would see such a spotlight on an alleged culture of sexual abuse at schools and a debate on how to change it. Sue Hincks, Headmistress at Bolton Girls? Division, said she believed ?the work which children do on healthy relationships lower down has an impact on the way in which young people go on to consider others as they grow up?. She added: ?The more we can emphasise this, the better for society as children blossom into young adults.? Along with other schools, children are encouraged to learn about relationships through their own behaviour at Bolton Girls? co-ed pre-prep Beech House and all-girls prep Hesketh House.
?From the day that children start, they learn about relationships,? said Sue Hincks, ?From Reception, pupils are taught how to take turns,...