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Sex Education: Lessons In How To Approach PSHE

Recently, Season 3 of hit Netflix show Sex Education was released to considerable acclaim from critics and viewers. The reason for this is obvious: it deals with relevant issues that a lot of us missed out on during our formative years in education.

In all honesty, many of the issues dealt with relate to things that I had never been taught in school. Take for instance the HIV advice scene in Episode 4; a moment that provides clarity and calm to ease potential anxieties over HIV that are always made hysterical by the media. It begs the question; why are a lot of us only just finding out about HIV prevention drugs like PrEP now? As show writer Alix Fox states, HIV is ‘no longer a death sentence’ - we should celebrate and embrace that within our curriculum rather than pander to the media scaremongering. This is exactly what Sex Education does and is why the show is so universally popular.

As well as this, Season 3 also introduces non-binary character Cal, which, needless to say, is crucial in providing some representation to an under-represented group in society. Beyond representation, Cal’s portrayal helps us to understand the challenges of living as a non-binary person. Their assertion to other non-binary character Layla that they can “speak up when they’re ready to” is a powerful moment of solidarity that reminds us of the difficulties and challenges faced by non-binary people.

Essentially, the draw of Sex Education is in reminding us that being open on sexuality and gender is vitally important. As is giving the under-represented a voice in an increasingly hostile world, helping people to at least understand that all of us just want to be accepted, understood and loved. It really is as simple as that. There is no reason for anyone to question someone’s identity unless it’s their own.

We believe in the importance of comfortable self-expression, which is why our Early Years Programme includes a non-binary Rainbow Drop in our storybooks: Rainbow. We believe in helping children to understand that people identify in ways beyond male and female. Merely acknowledging this is a great start to building an understanding of the modern world.

The way to deal with this lack of knowledge on important issues is not via forcing abstinence on teenagers as the show’s villainous headteacher Hope attempts to do. The way is quite the opposite - allowing them to be unafraid to ask important questions. To feel that they can turn to older figures for advice and assistance without worrying about any potential stigma or repercussions.

1decision is certainly a company that echoes this message of positivity around issues like sexuality and gender. Children should never be afraid to ask important questions as they grow and change. It’s so crucial that children are not repressed in their development, and the best way we can do that is to give them the best possible start in Relationships and Sex Education.

Ask us about a free trial or a live demo without any obligation today! We’d be more than happy to show how 1decision makes a difference to countless young lives throughout the UK. Best of all, our Kitemarked resources comply with the statutory changes made to the PSHE and RSE curriculum in September 2020.