Review

Resources

Knowing me, knowing you: strategies for sex education in the primary school.

Sanders P and Swinden L. Learning Development Aids, Abbeygate House, East Road, Cambridge CB1, 1990.

Excellent teaching resource for primary school teachers which not only provides 80 practical group exercises on a range of subjects relevant to sex education, but which also provides detailed and easily understood information on the policy and legal situation on sex education in schools.

Foundations for HIV/AIDS education in primary schools.

Helson P, Hay C and Kershaw J. Birmingham: Health Education Unit, 1993.

A reference booklet and guide to age-appropriate HIV education within the primary school curriculum. It examines the need for HIV education for younger people, and suggests what may be done in the primary school setting.

The inside story: menstruation education for young men and women.

Alvarado S and Power P. Wisbech: LDA, 1993.

A resource aimed at 9 to 16 year olds which not only gives factual information on the menstrual cycle, but also considers attitudes to menstruation in different cultures and environmental issues. It gives guidance on working with mixed sex groups, and includes suggested resources for young people and educators.

Primary school workbook: teaching sex education within the National Curriculum.

Lenderyou G. Family Planning Association, 27-35 Mortimer Street, London W1N 7JR, 1993.

This practical guide to teaching sex education in primary schools has been developed in response to requests from teachers. It offers a varied range of classroom activities which relate to curriculum guidelines for teaching sex education in primary schools. The workbook provides: a discussion of the key issues, a brief summary of the legislation (pre Education Act 1993); guidance on doing group work; step-by-step exercises with illustrations and handouts; background notes for teachers; and a resource list and addresses.

Who’s your family?

London: Brook Advisory Centre, 1994.

This teaching resource, for use with 14 to 18 year olds, is designed to raise young people’s awareness of different family structures, the range of relationships within different families and the rewards and difficulties of family life. Issues highlighted in a range of activities include: adoption; responsibility for sex education; the gay family member; stepfamilies; teenage pregnancy; young single fathers; planned parenthood and child-free couples.

The Black male’s sexuality and relationships social education pack.

Cochrane J and Parris S. London: North East Mitcham Community Centre, 1993.

This resource pack aims to assist those working with young black men in various educational settings. It contains a range of exercises that can be used to explore a large number of issues around black males, including relationships, sexuality and racism.

Abortion information pack.

London: Education for Choice, 1994.

An information pack for use as a reference or discussion resource for 15 to 18 year olds. Although Education for Choice begin from the standpoint that abortion is morally and medically acceptable, the information is not designed to persuade, but aims to provide an accurate, unemotional basis for young people to make up their own minds on this important social and moral issue. The pack includes a set of 10 fact sheets covering areas such as the history of abortion law reform, abortion and public opinion, abortion law in practice, the ethics of abortion, abortion and religion.

Holding the baby: video pack.

London: Family Planning Association, 1994.

How does it fel to be a teenager and pregnant, or a teenage parent? What are the issues facing young people who find themselves in these situations? This video draws on the first hand experiences of teenage parents in Northern Ireland to examine these issues. The video follows the experiences of several young women and men as they find out about the pregnancy and tell family, boyfriend and friends and then looks at how each manages as a teenage parent. There is an accompanying handbook, which includes exercises devised to explore and devlop issues raised in the video.

How sex works.

Fenwick E and Walker R. London:Family Planning Association/Dorling Kindersley, 1994.

This book offers practical advice on both the physical and emotional aspects of sexual development. Subjects covered include: understanding your body, relationships and emotions, what happens during sex, contraception, pregnancy and being a parent, sex and health, and problem areas. Each chapter includes a ‘problem page’ of questions and answers, quotes from teenagers, colour photos and illustrations.

Exploring healthy sexuality: a guide to sex education in a youth setting.

Jewitt C. London: Family Planning Association, 1994.

A practical sex education resource for those working with young people aged 14 to 24 years old. A clear and accessible explanation of the main issues is combined with quizzes, games and step-by-step exercises designed to help young people to explore their attitudes and feelings related to body image; assertion and communication; decision-making; sexuality; relationships; HIV and safer sex; and contraception. The manual also includes guidance for workers on developing their own ideas into exercises, and a list of useful resources and key agencies.

Love needs learning: a relationships course for young people.

Vincent M. London: Chapman, 1994.

This course, using exercises, case studies and role-playing is an introduction for young people to making and maintaining successful relationships. It examines all aspects of personal relationships, focusing on skills such as self-awareness, awareness of other people, communicating with others and coping with conflict. It encourages young people to have positive self-esteem and to be at ease with their sexuality. The course also tackles contemporary issues such as HIV/AIDS, divorce, child abuse and drug abuse. It is approved by the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council.

Taking Sex Seriously.

Cohen J and Wilson P. Liverpool: Healthwise, 1993.

Provides a range of exercises and strategies to help young people deal responsibly with real life situations. It focuses on information and decision-making in the areas of communicating about sex, avoiding penetrative sex, contraception, STDs, getting and giving help, and relating to parents.

Policy Development

A framework for school sex education.

Sex Education Forum. London: National Children’s Bureau, 1992.

Considers three fundametal dimensions of sex education: knowledge, social skills and values. Intended for use by teachers, school governors and parents during development of a sex education policy.

School sex education — why, what and how?: a guide for teachers.

Massey D. London: Family Planning Association, 1988.

This pack aims to help teachers implement sex education in their schools for 4 to 16 year olds. Contents include general background on the ethos of sex education, guidance on sex education at primary and secondary levels and for young people with special needs. Information on teaching methods, workshops for governors and staff members, guidance on creating a school policy. The appendices contain comprehensive lists of resources for teaching sex education as well as information on current research in the area.

Sex education: values and morality.

Lenderyou G and Porter M. London: Health Education Authority, 1994.

This resource is for education and health professionals who train and support those involved in developing school-based sex education policies. It describes the current legislation and content for sex education in schools. It also looks at how schools can develop a sex education value/morality framework that takes account of religious and cultural diversity. It provides practical participatory exercises for use with governors, parents and staff groups to enable users to develop a set of value statements on sex education relevant to their school and the needs and concerns of staff, parents, pupils and the wider community.

Developing and reviewing a school sex education policy: pointers and pitfalls.

Thompson R and Scott L. London: Sex Education Forum, 1994.

This forthcoming publication sets out a process for devloping and reviewing a school sex education policy. It considers the purpose of a sex education policy, suggests a model for what should be included in a policy, and suggests points to consider when reviewing a policy. It also presents examples of ‘model’ policies for a primary, secondary and special needs school.

Religion, ethnicity and sex education: exploring the issues.

Thompson R (ed)/Sex Education Forum. London: National Children’s Bureau, 1993.

Outcome of a consultation of a broad range of sexual health, educational, religious and minority ethnic organisations. Presents seven religious perspectives on sexuality and sex education, including Anglican, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Methodist, Roman Catholic and Sikh, as well as secular and personal perspectives.