Relationships and Sex Education

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) at St Mary's Catholic Primary School

At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we are committed to delivering a high-quality Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum that nurtures pupils’ personal development, emotional well-being, and understanding of healthy relationships. Rooted in Catholic values and the teachings of the Church, our RSE curriculum encourages children to develop respect, love, and responsibility towards themselves and others. As part of the Our Lady of the Magnificat Multi-Academy Trust, we guide pupils in forming positive relationships based on kindness, integrity, and faith, helping them grow into compassionate and responsible individuals.

Intent

At St Mary’s, our RSE curriculum is designed to provide children with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to build respectful and loving relationships while developing a strong sense of self-worth. Our approach fosters emotional literacy, resilience, and an understanding of the dignity of every human being, aligning with Catholic teachings on relationships, family, and personal identity. Through an age-appropriate and inclusive curriculum, we aim to help pupils navigate friendships, emotions, and personal growth with confidence and respect. Our teaching also highlights the importance of family, community, and the values of trust, honesty, and responsibility in building healthy and meaningful relationships.

Implementation

Our RSE curriculum is taught progressively, beginning in the Early Years, where children learn about emotions, friendships, and the importance of kindness. As pupils progress through the school, lessons cover topics such as respect for self and others, the importance of family, the changes that come with growing up, and making safe and informed choices.

We follow the Ten:Ten Life to the Full RSE program, a faith-based scheme that ensures our curriculum is aligned with Catholic teachings while meeting statutory requirements. This program delivers engaging, interactive lessons that support pupils in developing an understanding of love, relationships, and their role within a faith-filled community. Through discussion, reflection, and real-life scenarios, children learn to approach relationships with compassion and respect.

In addition, we collaborate with external providers and diocesan guidance to enrich our RSE curriculum, ensuring that pupils receive expert-led sessions that reinforce key messages. Our approach ensures that RSE is taught in a safe, supportive environment, where pupils feel comfortable asking questions and exploring their learning through the lens of Catholic virtues.

What a Typical Lesson Looks Like

Rewind: Reinforcing prior knowledge and preparing pupils for new learning. This helps pupils connect previous lessons to new concepts.

Teach it: Introduction of a new concept related to relationships, emotions, or personal development. Interactive discussions, role-playing, and modelling are key at this stage.

Practise it: Pupils engage in hands-on activities, discussions, or reflections, either individually or in groups. Scaffolding is used to support learning, and pupils receive feedback to deepen their understanding.

Assessment: Evaluate pupils' understanding through informal and formal assessment methods, such as discussions, written reflections, or scenario-based activities. The goal is to check progress and ensure pupils feel confident in applying their learning.

Impact

While at St Mary’s, pupils engage in a well-structured RSE curriculum that helps them develop essential life skills, self-confidence, and a strong moral foundation. Through lessons and our wider curriculum offer, children build respectful relationships, learn how to manage emotions, and develop a sense of responsibility towards themselves and others. RSE enables pupils to understand their role within their family, school, and wider community while equipping them with the knowledge to make safe and informed choices. Children leave St Mary’s with the ability to discuss relationships and emotions confidently, using appropriate vocabulary and applying Catholic values to their interactions. They are inspired to continue developing their emotional intelligence and social skills as they move into the next Key Stage.

Please find below our yearly plan for RSE, outlining the units that will be delivered in each year group.

There is a Parent Portal for our RSE curriculum for you to find out more information about what is being taught in each class. Please follow the link below.

Parent Portal

Parent Portal
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password: shopping centre

CAFOD: Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

Ten:Ten Resources