We write to welcome the Government's publication of the guidance on Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Education (RSHPE) in Scottish Schools.
This provided a critical opportunity to promote children's rights, safety and wellbeing in line with the Scottish Government's recently strengthened focus on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) agenda and we are pleased that the Government has put this into practice.
We strongly support this new guidance which applies to all children and young people in all schools and helps to equip them with full, accurate and evidence-based information; promotes respectful and compassionate attitudes that recognise the impact that gender stereotypes can have upon relationships; and supports safe, informed, responsible and healthy choices about their relationships and emotional and sexual health and wellbeing.
Recent surveys have revealed highly problematic attitudes to sexual consent and autonomy among young people in the UK, while high-profile cases of Child Sexual Exploitation and sexual abuse have highlighted the importance of ensuring that education in schools helps to equip children and young people with information to help keep themselves safe.
There is extensive evidence which points towards the view that high-quality RSHP education contributes to a reduction in teenage pregnancy, delays onset of sexual activity, increases the likelihood of the use of contraception and protection when they do start sexual relationships, and to a reduction of sexual relationships under coercive circumstances.
Providing comprehensive and accurate information to all children and young people makes it less likely that they will seek out alternative—and less reliable—sources of information about relationships and sexual health and wellbeing.
We recognise that teaching staff across Scotland have an important and often challenging role in informing children and young people about these issues. As was recently indicated by the Educational Institute for Scotland (EIS), the commitment identified in the guidance to professional, equitable and non-judgmental classroom practice is the right framework in which to take forward the provision of education, including on issues that some teachers may find difficult to address.
We welcome the focus on the need for high-quality training for teachers and support staff, which should be delivered in collaboration with school nurses, youth workers, voluntary sector agencies and other public health professionals, so that they feel comfortable and supported in the delivery of positive lessons relating to RSHP education.
Now that we have this guidance, the next step is its comprehensive implementation.
Local authorities need to ensure that this guidance becomes a reality in all our schools. Supporting Head Teachers and teaching staff to roll out RSHP education must become a priority for all Directors of Education in Scotland so that our children and young people can be equipped with full, accurate and evidence-based information to help protect them from harm and to aid positive decision -making.
We are committed to working with children and young people, the Scottish Government, Local Authorities, teachers, and parents to ensure that our children and young people grow up feeling supported, safe, included and well informed in all aspects of the curriculum.
Tam Baillie, Scotland's Commissioner for Children and Young People
Carol Ball, Chairperson Education Issues Group, UNISON Scotland
Jackie Brock, Chief Executive, Children in Scotland
Clare Cable, Chief Executive and Nurse Director, Queen's Nursing Institute, Scotland
Louise Cameron, Chair, Scottish Youth Parliament
Alex Cole-Hamilton, Head of Policy, Aberlour Child Care Trust
Martin Crewe, Director, Barnardo's Scotland
Maura Daly, Operations Manager, Circle
Jennifer Davidson, Director, CELCIS
Duncan Dunlop, Chief Executive, Who Cares? Scotland
Larry Flanagan, General Secretary, The Educational Institute of Scotland
Matt Forde, National Head of Service, NSPCC Scotland
Dr Peter Fowlie, Scottish Officer for the Royal College of Paediatrics & Child Health
Theresa Fyffe, Director, Royal College of Nursing Scotland
Deborah Gold, Chief Executive, National AIDS Trust
Hawys Kilday, Chief Executive, Caledonia Youth
Colin Macfarlane, Director, Stonewall Scotland
Dr Miles Mack, Chair, Royal College of General Practitioners (Scotland)
Mhairi McMillan, Policy Director, LGBT Youth Scotland
Angela Morgan, Chief Executive, Includem
Dana O'Dwyer, Chief Executive, Capability Scotland
Satwat Rehman, Director, One Parent Families Scotland
Clare Simpson, Project Manager, Parenting Across Scotland
Jim Sweeney, Chief Executive, Youthlink Scotland
Professor Julie Taylor, Director, University of Edinburgh/ NSPCC Child Protection Research Centre
Alison Todd, Chief Executive, Children 1st
Laura Tomson, Director, Zero Tolerance
George Valiotis, Chief Executive Officer, HIV Scotland
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