This paper explores relationships and sexuality education (RSE) in New Zealand secondary schools. After conducting a nationwide survey of teachers and producing a report on the challenges reported by RSE teachers, we began to develop a paper exploring the perennial issues faced by RSE teachers as they enact curriculum policy. Given that these…

Sexuality and relationship education (SRE) for trans young people is fraught with ongoing institutional and informational erasure, even as trans young people display considerable agency in navigating their SRE needs. This paper reports on a survey of 112 Australian trans young people, who shared their experiences of SRE (in terms of delivery and…

Children have a right to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). A key place for this to occur is in schools, and teachers' comfort and competence in teaching is critical to delivering high-quality CSE. Good quality Initial Teacher Education (ITE) should provide student teachers with a strong foundation for the delivery of CSE and the creation of…

This article suggests ways to teach teenagers about their right to complex personhood in relationships in a way that honours the psychological complexities of intimacy, as well as teenagers' wisdom as people already 'in' relationships. Recognition of students' complex personhood entails attention to two dimensions: (1) the emotional ambiguities,…

This paper shares a rhizomatic unfolding of how a creative, post-qualitative praxis for becoming adventurous in the field of Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) can unfold in a conducive policy and practice context (Wales, UK). Specifically, we focus on the making and mattering of what we call 'Crush-Cards'. These are a suite of…

This article analyses discussion of a narrative concerning sexual consent in a 2019 Spanish television series broadcast on Netflix called "Les de l'Hoquei" ("The Hockey Girls"). A thematic analysis was conducted on 105 comments made in response to three posts on the show's official Instagram account (all dated 27 May 2019),…

Schools in the UK and Europe, North America and Australia are introducing ambitious forms of relationships and sex education (RSE) or school-based sexuality education. For RSE to be effective it must be inclusive, recognising and respecting the needs and experiences of those who have not always been well served by sex/sexuality education. This…

This paper critically evaluates societal reactions to integrating LGBTQ+ content into the Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) curriculum in England and Wales. Utilising Stanley Cohen's theory of moral panics, it examines the roles of media, moral entrepreneurs, authorities, and the public in shaping debates around educational reforms. The paper…

This article reports on findings from a phenomenological study of young people's perspectives on issues of sex, sexuality, and intimate relationships. The study utilised photovoice methodology to collect data from 15 young people aged 16-18 years. Analysis of 84 photovoice scenarios identified four narratives embodying participants' perspectives…

As adolescents turn to online resources for health information, obstetricians and gynaecologists can play an active role in creating evidence-based resources for sexual health education. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a sexual health education website on adolescent girls' reproductive health knowledge and self-efficacy. It…

Educating young people about sexual consent aims to help them develop healthy relationships and prevent sexual harm. Yet, there remains no consensus on how to define consent nor the connection between consent and sexual harm. This article discusses findings from qualitative research conducted with young people in England that has explored issues…

This paper presents findings from a literature review on relationships and sexuality education for primary (elementary) school programme effectiveness. Using a theory-generating approach informed by realist evaluation, the review takes a deep dive into the literature to identify contexts, mechanisms and outcomes likely to influence the…

Teachers in Lady Agatha's Boarding School (Lady Agatha's) find teaching Sex and Relationships Education (RSE) uncomfortable. This paper investigates one aspect of the discomfort that they feel, namely the impact RSE has on their professional status as teachers. I use focus group data to reflect on the professional and personal location of teachers…

Researchers and media commentators often claim that young people are increasingly learning about sex through pornography, but evidence about this is unclear. This article reports on a mixed methods systematic review of research on pornography use for sexual learning. Ten articles were included that explicitly addressed how porn users describe the…

There is emerging evidence that young people have a good understanding of consent as a concept, but this does not align with real world practices. The perspectives of young people on the complexities of enacting consent are lacking, as are their views on the role of sex and relationships education. This study explored the topic of consent with 18…