On the Isle of Man, RSE is not a statutory subject. Instead, we have what is known as the RSE advisory curriculum which was created to support schools in their delivery of RSE. The curriculum is based on Scotland's RSHP national resource, but also includes resources from the PSHE Association, Childnet, Public Health England, and the NSPCC. The advisory curriculum runs from reception through year 11 and provides schools with guidance and resources to deliver their lessons in line with best practices and current research. RSE lessons are divided into different 'blocks' each with its own themes and learning intentions.
Because RSE is not statutory, each school uses the advisory curriculum in a flexible way to meet the needs of their students.
The Spiral Approach
The advisory curriculum has been designed using a ‘spiral approach,’ which means that important ideas and key themes are revisited with increasing complexity as children progress through their education. This helps to reinforce previous learning, and provides children with a greater understanding of what is being taught. This also helps to ensure that the content being taught is appropriate and relevant to the age and developmental stage of the child. Essentially, the content develops with the child.
Because the advisory curriculum was designed to be progressive, it is important not to view any particular content in isolation. Anything that a child learns in RSE will be building upon learning that has taken place in previous years. The advisory curriculum was created using resources and guidance from educators, health professionals, and third sector organisations. Scotland's RSHP national resource, upon which our curriculum is based, has been peer reviewed (evaluated by other experts in these fields) to ensure its quality. Any content included in the curriculum was determined to be age and stage appropriate and important for the health, safety, and education of children.
Parent and Student Voice
Good RSE is not only developed in line with current evidence and best practice guidance. It should also be shaped by the voices of the students for which it has been designed, and by their parents, who are the primary educators of their children. Effective RSE is dynamic and evolves with children. It is important that we continually assess and update our information and resources, to ensure we are providing children with the best education and opportunities possible to succeed in an ever changing world. The content being taught should not only be factual and evidence based, but also relevant to children and young people living in the Isle of Man today, including the experiences and challenges they may face. This is why it is so important that we have parent and student engagement in the ongoing development of RSE (and PSHE as a whole).