Letter to Parents: Y7 - Y11 Life & Personal Development
Wed 04 Sep 2024
Dear Parents and Carers,
As a part of your child’s education at Outwood Academy Shafton, we promote personal well-being and development through a comprehensive Life education programme. The Life curriculum which encompasses RSE, Health education, Citizenship and Religious Education is the personal development area that gives young people the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and practical skills to live safe, healthy, productive lives and meet their full potential.
I am writing to let you know that your child’s class will be taking part in lessons focusing on the relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education aspect of this programme during Y7-11. During this time RSE sessions will include teaching about healthy relationships, including friendships and intimate relationships; sex, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation; families; growing and changing, including puberty; personal hygiene; changing feelings; becoming more independent; keeping safe and consent; physical/mental health and wellbeing and staying safe; developing self-esteem and confidence. Students will also have opportunities to ask questions that help prepare them for relationships of all kinds in the modern world. At our academy, this learning takes place across all year groups and across multiple subjects, however the majority of the teaching and learning takes place in LIFE lessons.
We are very fortunate to have Spectrum (a specialist team in the fields of relationships and sexual health) deliver RSE sessions covering a range of topics and provide young people with information and discussion in an age appropriate way. They equip young people with knowledge, skills and resilience they need to make safer choices as they grow to adulthood – including learning how to recognise and manage risk, how to spot signs of healthy and unhealthy behaviours in relationships and how to find support services which can help them protect their sexual health.
Parents are able to withdraw their child (following discussion with the Lead for Personal Development and the Principal) from any or all aspects of Sex Education, other than those which are part of the Science curriculum, up to and until three terms before the age of 16. However, we would urge any parents and carers considering withdrawing their child from these lessons to consider what is being taught, how it is being taught and how important this education is for all children. Parents and carers do not have the right to withdraw their children from lessons that cover statutory Relationships and Health Education objectives. This includes all the information on puberty and how the human body changes.
Further information can be found on the Spectrum website:
Our Relationships, Sex and Health Education is fully inclusive to meet the needs of all our students. We fully believe that all children should learn about these important life skills in an open, honest and safe environment. We also believe that they should be taught in an age-appropriate and engaging way. RSE and Health education is taught throughout the school in every year group and is monitored and reviewed regularly. We encourage parents and carers to view our Relationships and Sex Education Policy. This can be found at:
As a school community, we are committed to working in partnership with parents; 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 discuss the Life and Personal Development curriculum please contact the academy on 01226 717730 / enquiries@shafton.outwood.com
Yours faithfully,
Sarah Riley Melissa Mitchell
Assistant Principal PD and Life Lead