Top tips for doing great RSE

In the final instalment of his 12-part series, Justin Hancock of DO… offers advice and guidance on how to teach RSE that is best in class.

Start with you

Often what makes people feel less confident in delivering relationships and sex education is that their own RSE was lacking, unhelpful or even quite traumatising. We can’t pass on what we don’t have, so start by thinking about your own RSE and the effect it has had on you.

Why not head to our self-reflection activities page on the DO… website, which teachers tell us they find really useful?

You can also find courses provided by members of the DO… collaboration at dorseforschools.com/further-training.

Don’t skip the group agreement

I know that feeling when you don’t have much time and you just want to get cracking with the lesson plan. However, whenever I’ve not spent enough time at the beginning of a course of lessons, I regret it.

Setting a group agreement is very important because it makes students feel safer and can help everyone feel more included. It also helps to set a different tone for these lessons – and it makes it clear that this is a very different kind of learning. Check out our advice on how to do a group agreement here.

It’s okay not to know the answer

The DO… way of teaching RSE means that you don’t have to be a ‘sexpert’, just a really good teacher. It’s less about facts and more about values, ethics, societal expectations and communication skills.

You may still get asked some questions you find a bit challenging, but if you don’t know the answer it’s okay to say you don’t know.

We’ve also provided you with a wealth of links to our reliable resources which you could look up online or refer young people to.

Let us handle the tricky questions!

Make it about them, not you

Sometimes the hardest thing is not to weigh in with your own thoughts and opinions. Remember that this is their lesson, not yours. The best RSE is when you facilitate discussion, rather than closing it down with your own views.

Best practice in RSE means adopting a different teaching approach. We have lots of advice about this in our lesson guidance section at DO…

Ask great questions and listen to their answers

The best RSE classes I’ve ever delivered have been the ones where I’ve spoken the least. The buzz in the classroom when students are grappling with the big questions “Why do people have romantic relationships?” or “How can you tell that someone is consenting?” can really stay with the students – but also you as the teacher.

When everyone leaves the classroom having learnt something valuable – it’s such a great feeling – for them and you.

Let them chat

I once visited a school where several tutor groups were delivering one of my lesson plans at the same time. In some classes the students were in small groups in earnest discussions about the topic.

In another, the embarrassed students were being asked to answer questions in front of the whole class by their anxious teacher. The former definitely worked more effectively than the latter!

The DO… materials make use of a wide range of unique and interactive learning methods, to help you get the discussion going in smaller groups. They are interesting and challenging enough, so you don’t have to worry about students going off topic.

Do, Do, DO…

Worrying about getting it right can inhibit many teachers from actually teaching relationships and sex education. We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for you to deliver the very best practice RSE, and if you follow our lesson guidance and detailed lesson plans you won’t go far wrong.

For resources and support to make great RSE happen in your school, visit dorseforschools.com.