Joint Statement from Hannah Witton and Brook on the new guidance published for RSE

Published: 20 July 2018

Joint Statement from Hannah Witton, sex and relationships vlogger, author and Brook Ambassador; and Brook the young people’s sexual health and wellbeing charity.

After decades of lobbying for quality relationships and sex education (RSE) for young people, we are delighted to that the Department for Education have today published the draft RSE guidance and the launch of the consultation.

Over the next few weeks we will be writing a detailed response to the consultation and supporting all our stakeholders – children and young people, teachers and schools, clinicians, parents and members of the public and expert organisations – to feed in their responses to the Department for Education.

In the meantime our first response includes lots of positives:

• Schools will be encouraged to listen to students, experts and the wider school community in planning the curriculum and ensuring that topics are addressed in a timely way to meet the expressed needs and developmental stages of children and young people
• The DfE clearly heard the call for RSE to be inclusive of all students - including addressing LGBT+ issues across the curriculum, and ensuring RSE is relevant and accessible for disabled children and those with special educational needs.
• Schools are encouraged to engage with parents in a positive way to provide reassurance and minimise parental withdrawal

Hannah Witton says:

I’m really pleased the new guidance will address the issues of young LGBT+ people and those with additional needs, as I remember this was lacking from my own experience of sex education. I know from my YouTube channel that young people are really eager to learn about the positive aspects of sex and relationships, like pleasure, and therefore a priority now is ensuring that school based RSE doesn’t make sex seem like a shameful, embarrassing or dangerous thing.

In 2017 I met lots of young passionate volunteers from Brook who told me they wanted RSE that is a regular part of their school timetable, is based on facts and not opinions, and promotes equal, happy relationships. I will continue to work with Brook to make sure that young people’s voices are heard throughout the consultation period."

Lisa Hallgarten, Head of Policy & Public Affairs for Brook says:

Great RSE plays a vital part in supporting young people to develop healthy, fulfilling, safe and enjoyable relationships as they transition into adulthood. We welcome the publication of this comprehensive guidance. This is a once in a generation opportunity to get this right for young people. We will be working with all our stakeholders to respond to this guidance, and agree any additional information and support schools will need to translate it into practice. We will continue our work in secondary schools across England supporting and training teachers and providing evidence-based high quality RSE lessons.

We hope that publication of the draft guidance will help maintain the momentum that has been building and encourage schools to start implementing comprehensive, quality RSE as soon as possible.”

For media enquiries please contact Brook's press office on 07789 682831 or email press@brook.org.uk

Notes to editors

Brook believes that young people should have access to great sexual health services and wellbeing support.

Brook provides free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and education programmes, reaching nearly 235,000 young people nationwide every year.
 
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