School Requirements:
The Department of Education requires schools to teach RSE for a minimum of six class periods a year.
Every school must also develop a RSE policy in consultation with the wider school community. It is recommended that this policy is reviewed and updated every three years.
A copy of our RSE/SPHE Policy is available in our Policy section.
What is RSE?
RSE stands for 'Relationships and Sexuality Education' and is is a lifelong process of acquiring knowledge, understanding and skills which enable us to develop attitudes, beliefs and values about sexual identity, relationships and intimacy (DES 1996).
RSE is an integral part of general education as it seeks to promote the overall development of students and includes the integration of sexuality into personal understanding, growth and development.
While parents are the primary educators in this area, ideally the school will work in partnership with parents to provide comprehensive RSE for young people. We will notify parents in advance of the RSE programme beginning via VSware.
We provide RSE through SPHE classes at Junior Cycle, in TY, and 5th Year and through Religion classes in Sixth Year. The school encourages parents to ensure students participate in the programme as a means of supporting them as the primary educators of their children.
Aims of RSE
- To help young people understand and develop friendships and relationships.
- To promote an understanding of sexuality.
- To promote a knowledge of and respect for reproduction.
- To promote a positive attitude to one’s own sexuality and relationships with others.
- To enable young people to develop attitudes and values towards their sexuality in a moral, spiritual and social framework.
- To provide opportunities for pupils to learn about relationships and sexuality in ways that help them think and act in a moral, caring and responsible way.
We encourage good behaviour, open communication, understanding and tolerance of differences, and respect for oneself as well as others.
We recognise that both students and staff have rights and responsibilities in school, and aim to foster a sense of responsibility while paying attention to the wellbeing of all members of the school community.
Topics
The student voice is important to us. We have surveyed all students from 2nd to 6th Year to capture their views and key topics of interest in the area of RSE and SPHE. We have amended our plans to meet the needs expressed by students. See the posters below to see the topics that we'll be covering with students from Second to Sixth Year.