Definition of SRE

"Sex and Relationship Education is lifelong learning about sex, sexuality, emotions, relationships and sexual health. It involves acquiring information, developing skills and forming positive beliefs, values and attitudes." (Sex Education Forum) 

SRE should empower young people, build self-esteem, offer a positive and open view of sex and support sexual self-acceptance and mutual respect.

Planning for SRE also requires an understanding of young people’s needs. Knowing about aspects of SRE does not, on its own, ensure a young person’s personal safety and sexual health. Good SRE should help pupils to develop the personal skills they will need if they are to establish and maintain relationships and make informed choices and decisions about their health and wellbeing.

An SRE programme is likely to be particularly effective if it enables pupils to:

• communicate a point of view clearly and appropriately, and listen to the views of others
• make sensible choices about what to do in particular situations
• manage relationships with friends confidently and effectively
• act responsibly as individuals and as members of groups.

Therefore the scope of SRE is much wider than just “parts, plumbing and periods”.