Curriculum Relevance

Curricular Relevance and Cross Curricular Themes

Scotland

In Curricular Design for the Secondary Stages (2000) the following curricular goals are relevant:

• Respect and care for self
• Respect and care for others

Along with other goals in the document these are identified as fundamental to a moral life and a sound guide on which to base personal choice. Relevant skills identified are:

• Personal and interpersonal skills
• Working with others

The ability to do the following are identified as goals for pupils:

• Deal responsibly with their emotions
• Take increasing responsibility for their own lives
• Look after their own personal needs, health and safety
• Be sensitive and responsive to the needs of others
• Make decisions based on informed judgements

Check out the guidelines on sex education in Scottish Schools, produced by Scottish Executive and Learning and Teaching Scotland and scheduled for publication in 2001.

England

Two broad aims of the school curriculum are:

• To provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve

• To promote children’s spiritual, moral and social development for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of life

The National Curriculum Primary and Secondary Handbook (1999) emphasises common ground between personal, social and health education and citizenship. The statutory and non-statutory aspects are presented as a unified framework of four interrelated strands:

• Developing confidence and responsibility and making the most of abilities
• Preparing to play an active role as citizens
• Developing a healthy, safer lifestyle
• Developing good relationships and respecting the differences between people

Wales

See above and check out the latest information on the teaching of sex education in schools in Wales.

Northern Ireland

Key characteristics of the curriculum at Key Stage 4.

Key Stage 4 Social and Environmental Studies

Education at Key Stage 4 should continue to foster the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, moral, cultural and spiritual development of pupils by:

• encouraging a growing independence
• enhancing self-esteem and encouraging the growth of pupils' own sets of values
• promoting the development of personal and interpersonal skills, to encourage them to participate as contributing members of groups

Key Stage 4 Science

Reproduction:

Learning about the need for a responsible attitude to sexual behaviour, including:

• interpersonal relationships
• prevention of sexually transmitted diseases e.g. the cause transmission and prevention of AIDS
• contraception - natural, mechanical and surgical methods

Curricular Relevance and Cross Curricular Themes

• Knowledge and understanding about sexuality and sexual behaviour

(PSHE; PSD; Citizenship; Religious and Moral Education; Biology)

• Understanding and managing the feelings and emotions involved

(PSHE; PSD; English; Drama)

• Learning about potential risks and how to minimise these

(PSHE; PSD; Citizenship; Drama; Science)

• Developing the communication skills needed to manage relationships and sexual feelings

(PSHE;PSD; English; Drama)