Scoil Bhride BNS

RELATIONSHIP AND SEXUALITY EDUCATION POLICY FOR SCOIL BHRIDE BNS

The initial policy statement for RSE was drawn up by a committee including the Principal, Deputy principal, representatives of BOM, Parent's body and patron's representative, and ratified by BOM in 1999.
The latest review of this policy was undertaken by J. Healy SPHE coordinator in 2008.

To whom does this policy apply?
This policy applies to all staff, Parents and any visiting speakers
to our school.

School Ethos and Philosophy

The ethos of the school informs the planning and teaching of
the R.S.E. programme. We are a senior boys school in Tullamore parish with a catholic ethos and will promote the values and beliefs which this implies.
As an inclusive school we respect and value the views of parents, pupils and staff. A
welcoming and friendly school environment encourages the
expression of these views and provides a forum for open and
active communication.
We intend that all pupils be valued and feel valued. Individual needs and differences are addressed so that each child can develop
appropriately across a wide range of abilities and activities. This implies in particular to our classes for boys with special needs. We also have a number of boys of differing faiths and beliefs. It is our intention to value this difference also.
Every opportunity is taken to nurture self esteem and respect for
self and others. In this we are preparing children, individually
and socially for positive roles in family, community and society.

Definition of R.S.E.

Relationships and Sexuality Education is concerned with the
acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the
development of attitudes, beliefs and values about relationships,
sexual identity and intimacy.
It deals with specific issues such as human growth and
development, human sexuality, parenting, personal and social
skills and relationships.

Aims

The aims of R.S.E. are situated within the broader aims of
S.P.H.E.

We aim :
To enhance the personal development, self esteem and
well being of the child.
To enable the child to develop healthy relationships and
friendships.
To foster an understanding of, and develop a healthy
attitude to human sexuality and relationships in a moral,
spiritual and social framework.
To enable the child to acquire an understanding of, and
respect for human love and reproduction.
To develop and promote in the child a sense of wonder and
awe at the process of birth and new life.
To enable the child to be comfortable with his/her own
sexuality and that of others while growing and developing.
These are the overall aims of the programme to be met in ways
appropriate to the age and stage of development of the children.

Education Programme

All of the R.S.E. programme will be delivered within the
context of S.P.H.E and will include elements of R.S.E., Stay
Safe, Walk Tall and Alive-O programme.
Sexually Sensitive issues, those issues/areas of R.S.E. that deal
with understanding sexuality and the processes of growth,
development and reproduction will be covered within the strand
units " Taking care of my body" and " Growing and changing".
These issues will furthermore be delivered within the context of
a moral and spiritual framework consistent with the values and
ethos of our school.
Within this framework pupils begin to clarify their own value
systems and develop their moral reasoning ability.
Continuity of language and content will be maintained
throughout the school.

Planning / Implementation

In planning and implementing the R.S.E. programme we will
have regard to the following;

The child's entitlement to appropriate R.S.E.

The rights and responsibilities of parents.
(Parents are acknowledged as the primary educators of their
children . The school works in a supportive role .)

That materials, information and speakers used as part of
the programme conform with policy and ethos.


The professional judgement and expertise of teachers.

Implementation

All content objectives will be covered by the time the
children leave 6th class.

One half hour period per week is timetabled
in each class for S.P.H.E. R.S.E. will be included in
the programme taught during this time.

Teachers will be encouraged and supported to teach the
sensitive issues to their own class.

Should a Teacher not wish to teach sensitive areas of the curriculum,the SPHE coordinator(currently J. Healy) will endeavour to make arrangements to accommodate this wish.

A suitable speaker , e.g. from Accord may be invited to
deliver the contents of the programme to 6th class. All
material taught to be in accordance with prescribed
S.P.H.E.programme, in the presence of a Teacher.

A parent's right to withdraw a pupil from the process will
be observed .We acknowledge that the parent is the primary educator of the child, and can choose to exclude the child from these strands. Arrangements for alternate supervision will be made in these instances.

An outline of the content for each class level will be available to
parents on request.

Provision for support/ development and review

There is a need for ongoing support, development and review of
R.S.E. policy and programme. This will include:

Inservice training for staff. All offers of staff training
will be posted on staff notice board and may be discussed
at Staff Meetings. The Board of Management may agree to
pay subvention towards cost of suitable courses from its
training budget.
Review at staff meetings and teacher/ parent meetings.

This policy and programme will be due for review in 2010.
All partners will be informed
of any amendments necessary after such a review.

The development of appropriate resources
Parents will be informed about the policy on enrolment , in the
school's information booklet, application form and at
parent/teacher meetings.