The new curriculum content for Relationships and Sex Education (#RSE) in Secondary Schools and Relationships Education in Primary Schools is on its way. Both subjects are due to be compulsory by September 2019.

Why such a big change?

The Sex and Relationships Education Guidance (#SRE) was published back in 2000. The world has changed in a big way since 2000, that’s before smart phones!

One important reason why Relationships and Sex Education curriculum needs updating is to teach #e-safety to students in Primary Schools and in Secondary Schools.

Prevalence of the internet means we are all more connected. This brings wonderful advantages, easy access to information, speedy Google powered research on any topic. However, with all this connection it becomes harder to control what young people are exposed to.

Have you ever had an experience that was completely unexpected?

Imagine you had an unpleasant experience. Now imagine that this unpleasant event that happened to you, was completely unexpected. You had no idea it was going to happen. It makes it worse, right?

Some experiences are bad no matter how we prepare. However, having forewarning about a challenging situation means we are more able to cope with it: Not knowing about it, makes it worse.

Now imagine if before that event took place, someone gave you advanced warning about it. They reassured you and told you it would be okay. You would go into that challenging situation more prepared.

Even if it was difficult, you’d know you had people on your side. People you can talk to. You would be more prepared to face the challenge. You would feel more confident. You would have a greater sense of control over your situation. You would think to yourself ‘I know what this is and it’s going to be okay.’

This is often the situation with young people using the internet. Most young people will come across upsetting or disturbing content at some point while online. This could include a scary text, violent images, hateful content, sexual material or illegal material.

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in Primary Schools and Secondary Schools has the opportunity to prepare students for these risks. Once we start the conversation about it, we can encourage young people to talk to an adult if they come across upsetting content.

We all have an instinct to protect young people. However, keeping someone safe sometimes involves honesty about the realities of the world they live in. Not to shock them or frighten them, but to prepare them.

OpenView Education teaches cyber safety and e-safety workshops for KS1 and KS2 primary school students. We use an interactive and Drama based approach to learning.

Check out our Internet Safety workshop here, and for more information feel free to give us a call on 07597 984841.

Let’s start a more open conversation about internet safety for students.