VALUES:
Sex Education
1. AIMS
To inform pupils about the medical and psychological changes of puberty and about human reproduction;
to develop in pupils a growing awareness of the moral and social responsibilities associated with marriage and family life and with adult, sexual relationships;
to encourage pupils to see human sexuality within a religious, sacramental and Christian context;
to provide an understanding of contraception and family planning, in relation to the Roman Catholic church's teaching;
to inform pupils, as fully as appropriate, about more controversial aspects of sexual experience, such as birth control, abortion, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases and homosexuality, to give them the freedom to follow the church's teachings within an increasingly secular world;
to give the pupils the confidence and opportunities to discuss issues related to their own adolescence and to ask for advice when required;
to support parents in their rôle as educators of their children;
to present Sex Education as a developmental process, integrated with personal growth and to uphold the belief that sexuality is good and God given.
2. PREAMBLE
The Roman Catholic church is formally opposed to imparting sex education dissociated from moral principles. For sex education to be successful it must be fully integrated into the curriculum: science, religious education, health education, literature and the arts have key rôles to play.
Sexuality is a fundamental component of personality; it is an integral part of the development of the personality. Therefore, sex education must never be seen as something independent from the moral and personal development of a pupil's individuality.
Much of the work in co-ordinating the sex education of pupils in different subject disciplines is done by the school's PSE co-ordinator who is specifically appointed to this role.
Education in sexuality is just part of education in relationships; all those who work at St Peter's should strive towards pupils experiencing good quality relationships in school.

3. OBLIGATIONS REQUIRED BY POLICY
i The PSHE Co-ordinator should
liaise with head of year 8, with heads of science and PE and with the teacher responsible for health education, concerning the planning, the content and the teaching of all issues regarding human relationships and sex education, explicitly the 'relationships talks' on development days;
ensure that the guidelines in the Catholic Education Service's document Education in Sexuality are addressed;
take responsibility for the monitoring of the PSE programme throughout the school;
take responsibility for informing all staff concerning school policies with regard to sex education.
ii THE GOVERNORS should
take responsibility for the content and delivery of the school's sex education programme;
be familiar with relevant state legislation regarding sex education and with Church directives;
be ultimately responsible for the school communicating with parents who have queries about any aspect of the school's sex education policy or with its implementation, or who wish to withdraw their children from those lessons where sex education is specifically addressed.