Rydal Penrhos recently hosted an engaging Parent RSE Workshop on Wednesday 17 May 2023.

Parents from Rydal Penrhos Prep and Senior year groups gathered in the Carnegie Room, on the Ground Floor of Old House, for an insightful presentation on PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education) and RSE (Relationships and Sex Education).

Led by Mrs Mary Richardson, a Senior teacher and the Leader of PSHE and RSE at Rydal Penrhos, the workshop provided an opportunity for parents to deepen their understanding of these important components of their children’s education.

For those who may be unaware, PSHE refers to a comprehensive educational approach that focuses on developing students’ personal, social, health, and economic well-being. RSE, on the other hand, specifically emphasizes educating young individuals about relationships, sexual health and consent.

With a wealth of experience in teaching these subjects, having joined Rydal Penrhos in 2006, Mrs Richardson offered an overview of the evolution that has taken place in the PSHE curriculum over the past 15 years. She emphasized the transformation of RSE education from a clinical focus on sex to a more relationship-oriented approach, reflective of the modern discourse around these subjects.

One of the main changes in that time has been the role of the internet. Mrs Richardson explained how, in the modern world of smartphones and easily accessible digital devices, children’s access to dangerous, inappropriate, and untrue information was a key challenge that PSHE and RSE education had to address.

Rydal Penrhos firmly grounds its RSE teaching in the Curriculum for Wales RSE Code, which is based on national guidelines issued by the Welsh Government. Mrs Richardson dispelled some of the myths that have been floated around RSE education in Wales and answered parent questions.

Deputy Principal Mrs Davies was there to offer a perspective from the Prep. She reassured parents that sensitive topics were being handled in an appropriate and respectful manner. Both Mrs Richardson and Mrs Davies emphasized that the ideas delivered in PSHE and RSE are reflected in teaching in all subjects, not just the weekly PSHE lesson.

Rydal Penrhos would like to thank those parents who took the time to attend the workshop and for those who were unable to attend, we would point you in the direction of our RSE Policy, which also contains a link to the Welsh RSE Code. You can access our policy here.