Students will discuss changing relationships, with a focus on sexual relationships and knowing when you are ready. They will discuss the signs of both healthy and abusive relationships. Students will learn where to seek advice and guidance, and will also consider the strategies for handling break ups. Students will increase their knowledge of the law and sexual offences, which will include child sexual exploitation and revenge pornography. Students will learn first-hand, from teenage parents, the impact of having a baby in your teens.
Relationships and sexual feelings
Students continue to expand their knowledge and understanding of different relationships and how they change over time. Students will be able to negotiate the relationships and friendships that they want and make them feel good (inclusive of all sexual orientations). Students will learn how to challenge prejudice, bullying, homophobia, bi-phobia and transphobia effectively.
Risk Taking
Students will discuss how to assess a situation for risk. During Year 10 they develop assertiveness skills to resist unhelpful pressure, and negotiation skills to keep themselves safe. Students will recognise behaviours that can change their attitude to risk taking, such as drinking alcohol, taking drugs or reacting to peer pressure. Student explore the facts and laws about drug, alcohol and tobacco misuse, and the personal and social consequences of misuse for themselves and others. They understand ways of recognising and reducing risk, minimising harm and getting help in emergency and risky situations.
Rights of the child
In Year 10, students expand their knowledge about the law and the rights of the child. They understand their rights to confidentiality even if they are under 16. They revisit the age of consent in the context of The Sexual Offences Act 2003. Students look again at harmful relationships and understand that any form of violence against women and men, domestic/child abuse is a serious abuse of human rights. Students learn about Forced Marriage, and that it’s a criminal offence to force someone to marry.
Pornography
During Year 10, students develop skills to critically reflect on the media and pornography, and to separate fantasy from reality in terms of sex, sexual activity and body image. They consider definitions and categories of pornography, particularly in how the Law relates to sex and pornography. Students will learn to uphold a positive view of sex and relationships based on equality, mutual respect between consenting partners, shared pleasure and the importance of negotiating safer sex.
Safe sex
Students continue to develop a sense of responsibility for looking after their own sexual health. They increase their knowledge, skill base and capacity to make rational and informed choices in birth control and barrier protection from sexually transmitted infections (regardless of sexuality). They cover how HIV and STIs, including Chlamydia are transmitted. There is a focus on HIV/AIDS and the prejudice, discrimination and stigma faced by people living with HIV. Students learn how to access a range of local and national sexual health advice, contraception and support services.