Relationships, Sexual Health & Parenthood Education: A New Approach

This presentation provides an overview of a new approach to Relationships, Sexual Health, and Parenthood Education (RSHPE), highlighting the necessity for change due to concerns about young people's sexual health and well-being. It addresses issues such as rising STI rates, teenage pregnancy, and the need for consistent and confident delivery of sex education. The presentation outlines three main strands of the new approach: improving classroom delivery, partnering with parents, and providing wider support and access to local services. The content emphasizes the importance of updating educational content to reflect relationships and emotions, as well as sexual health. The presentation concludes that sex education is crucial for students, ensuring they receive proper instruction and knowledge about sexual health issues, addressing societal concerns and promoting informed decision-making.

Relationships and sex education

Outline of Presentation
• Why is there a need for a new approach?
• What is the new approach?
• Getting feedback from pupils, parents & teachers.
• What we are asking of you.

Why is there a need for a new approach?...
Two main reasons
• Concerns regarding the sexual health and well-being of young people.
• There is a need for us to adjust our ways.

a) The wider social culture.
b) Sexual behaviour of young people.
c) Sexual health indicators on the rise.
d) Sexual well-being.
Concerns about Young People’s
Sexual Health & Well-being

b) Sexual Behaviour of Young
People
15 year olds
(Healthy Respect 2005/08)
15 year olds
(HBSC 2010)
Sexual
Intercourse
27% Boys
28% Girls
27% Boys
35% Girls

b) Sexual Behaviour of Young People
By age 15 years:
• 50% had experience of heavy petting or sexual touching
• 40% had experience of oral sex
• 31% had experience of sexual intercourse.

b) Sexual Behaviour of Young People
Average age at 1st event:-
• Heavy petting 13.8 years
• Oral Sex 14.3 years
• Sexual Intercourse 14.4 years
• 51% of all those under 16 years reported that they had some form of
sexual experience

b) Sexual Behaviour of Young People
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
• Majority of diagnosed STIs occur in under 25’s
• Over 70% of all Chlamydia diagnoses are under 25
• Estimated 1 in 10 under 25’s may have Chlamydia
• Under 25’s account for 2/3’s of genital warts cases in
women and 1/2 of those in men.

c) Sexual Health Indicators
(i) Teenage Pregnancy Rates - European
• UK rate of 55.7 per 1000 of 15 to 19 year olds
• UK is very different from our European neighbours:
- Netherlands at 4 births per 1000
- Italy at 7 per 1000
- France at 11 per 1000
- Germany at 10 per 1000

c) Sexual Health Indicators
(ii) Teenage Pregnancy Local
Rate per
1000
West
Dunbartonshire
NHSGG&C
13 – 15
15 - 19
4.1
(2008/10)
77
(2008/10)
4.6
(2008/10)
60
(2008/10)

d) Sexual Wellbeing
Childline Report (2007)
• Sexual health second highest reason for calls.
 Lack of information.
 Relationships with adults.
 Relationships with friends.
 Sexual bullying.
 Sexual abuse.
 Unhappy with appearance.
 Sexual identity.

The need for change
NHS Health Scotland Review 2008, Consultations with West
Dunbartonshire Parents/Carers (2009), Teaching Staff (2010)
• Inconsistent approaches to content and delivery.
• Some teachers don’t feel confident to deliver.
• Need to update what was taught to reflect relationships/emotions as well
as sexual health.
• Key part of the Health Promoting School model.
• Importance of SHRE for some children.