Relationships and Sex Education curriculum paused for independent review

Fri, 17 Feb 2023

Relationships and Sex Education curriculum has been paused at Primary and Secondary schools on the Isle of Man.

It follows growing concerns parents are having about their children being exposed to 'unacceptable RSE material' in local schools.

In a statement, Education Minister Julie Edge told Energy FM:"The Department feels it appropriate to deploy an independent review, to gain an independent understanding of what has taken place and the facts of the situation understood.  As such, the Department has taken the decision to pause all RSE delivery across both Primary and Secondary schools, and will be unable to comment any further until the facts have been established. We would ask the public not to speculate any further until such time."

"The purpose of the Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Advisory Curriculum is to ensure that children and young people develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes they need to support their emotional and physical wellbeing. Providing this guidance to schools helps work towards consistency across the Island's schools, provides staff with equal access to high quality resources, and ensures that age and stage appropriate content is delivered to students."

"The RSE Advisory Curriculum which was launched in September 2022, identifies themes and concepts from a number of sources including, but not limited to, Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP), Childnet, The PSHE Association and Public Health England. The structure and content has been guided by Scotland's (RSHP) resource to ensure content is mapped from Reception to Year 11, which has been quality assured and peer reviewed by a partnership of educators, health professionals and third sector organisations."

"The content provided is tailored and adapted for our Island's schools and it is not an exact replication.  The guidance shares links to resources that teaching staff can access and adapt. However, there is no requirement to use any of the resources; school professional's will select the resources they wish to deliver within their school to meet the needs of their students.  Each school creates their own individual RSE Policy that advises on their content and delivery, advising parents/carers how they can discuss this with the school."

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