Relationships and Sex Education
As a part of your child’s education at Stratton School, we promote personal wellbeing and development through our house system and a comprehensive Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education programme.
PSHE education is the curriculum subject that gives young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live safe, healthy, productive lives and meet their full potential.
Your child and their peers also take part in sessions which will focus on the relationships and sex education (RSE) aspect of this PSHE programme.
The content of RSE sessions is outlined clearly, by year group, in the Meridian Trust Policy which can be found on the Trust website here: Meridian-Trust-Secondary-and-Special-School-Relationships-sex-education-policy-PSHEv4-24-03-23-final.pdf (meridiantrust.co.uk).
Pupils will also have opportunities to ask questions that help prepare them for relationships of all kinds in the modern world.
As a school community, we are committed to working in partnership with parents; recent parental feedback has indicated that the overwhelming majority of parents continue to be highly supportive of the relationships and sex education programme. If you would like to find out more or discuss any concerns, please let us know.
Copy of Letter text shared with families in April 2025
Dear Parents/Carers
Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) lessons.
As you may be aware, it is compulsory for secondary schools to teach Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). Statutory RSE at Stratton School is taught as part of the PSHCE (Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship Education) curriculum and I am writing to inform you that we will be delivering these lessons for year 7 and 8 as part of a Drop Down PSHE day on Friday 9th May.
The content of RSE lessons in PSHCE are outlined below. However, please be aware that, in order to ensure that the RSE curriculum is responsive to their needs, students will be given the opportunity to ask questions during lessons. This means that RSE topics other than those stated may be discussed in an age-appropriate way in order to answer these questions and to discourage students from seeking answers online.
Students with SEND will be provided with additional and appropriate support from the SEND Department where needed.
Content of RSE lessons:
Students will cover two main areas of discussion during their Drop-Down days.
1. Knowing your body: Reproductive systems and sex – This session will include discussion of reproductive system, sexual intercourse, and understanding the body.
2. Consent and Privacy – This session will discuss consent, the right to say no, how to maintain privacy and set boundaries.
The lessons will comprise of teacher led talk and information sharing, videos and discussions and several class discussions. Each session will be in small class groups, lead by members of SLT and experienced PSHE trained staff. If you would like to view these materials, they can be requested in through emailing Mrs Langdon.
Right of parental withdrawal from RSE and right of students to opt back into RSE:
I should also remind you that parents/guardians have the right to request their child be removed from Sex Education delivered as part of statutory RSE up to and until three terms before the child turns 16.
After this point, if the child wishes to receive sex education rather than being withdrawn, the school will arrange this.
Information on our consultation policy and the right to withdraw can be found on our website here: https://stratton.school/rse-consultation
Please be aware that it is not possible to withdraw your child from aspects of RSE covered as part of the Science National Curriculum or from lessons covering the broader aspects of Relationships and Health Education.
Should you have any further questions about RSE or any other aspect of the PSHCE curriculum, please feel free to email me at jlangdon@stratton.school
Yours sincerely
Jennifer Langdon
Assistant Principal