Short summary of research with young people for the development of impactful RSHE 2023

Bovill, Helen; White, Jo; Banks, Liz; Malson, Helen

Abstract

The Women and Equalities Committee inquiry (2016), found sexual harassment and sexual violence in schools to be widespread, facilitated by access to online pornography. UK research found most children have seen pornography by 16, with 75% reporting that pornography did not teach about positive relationships (Martellozzo et al., 2017). Ofsted conducted a rapid review of sexual abuse in schools (Ofsted, 2021), finding serious areas of concern surrounding sexual abuse in school has arisen in the context of child-on-child or peer-on-peer abuse (DFE, 2022; Ofsted, 2021). ‘Everyone’s Invited’ website forum for survivors of sexual abuse testifies to this. UK statutory guidance (DFE, 2019) introduced new mandates around Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), making this compulsory in secondary schools in England from late 2020. The new mandates regarding RSHE provision, highlight the need for more concerted action to ensure that RSHE is relevant to young people’s needs and is delivered effectively. Our current study aimed to inform future action in this area. Our research questions were as follows:
1. What do young people want to learn about consent and pornography in schools?
2. How do young people want to learn about consent and pornography in schools?
3. What kind of RSHE resources and activities can empower young people to forge healthy relationships in their daily lives?
Five schools and 62 year 9 students took part in this study, which used a focus group approach and delivered this through a post-it note questions activity, showing of a film 'DARE' made by young people for young people (by two members of the research team), and a quote activity, looking at quotes from previous research (conducted by one member of the research team), upon the impact of pornography upon young people. 12 hours of focus group data was collected. Thematic analysis was used to inform our main findings and themes, which were:
Focus on relationships not just biology, deliver consent in more depth, integrate diverse sexuality and gender across content, do not ignore pornography and its impact in young people's lives, use innovative entry points such as film and testimonies to discuss topics, allow time to deliver RSHE and prioritise and ringfence this time, deliver learning across genders, the importance of confidence, openness, respect and adaptability of those delivering RSHE, create enabling environments, that may lead to critical conversations with young people about the things that matter in their lives and which are relatable to them.

• Report Type: Research Report
• Publication Date: Aug 11, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 11, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 15, 2023
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11018209