Parental attitudes to school- and home-based Relationships, Sex and Health Education: evidence from a cross-sectional study in England and Wales

Rudoe, N. and Ponsford, R. 2024. Parental attitudes to school- and home-based Relationships, Sex and Health Education: evidence from a cross-sectional study in England and Wales. Sex Education. 24 (6), pp. 868-885. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2023.2257602

TitleParental attitudes to school- and home-based Relationships, Sex and Health Education: evidence from a cross-sectional study in England and Wales
TypeJournal article
AuthorsRudoe, N. and Ponsford, R.
Abstract

Further to the introduction of compulsory relationships and health education in primary schools and relationships and sex education and health education (RSHE) in secondary schools in England from 2020, this paper examines the attitudes of parents towards school- and home-based RSHE. Using data from a survey of parents (n=849) of children at 37 independent schools in England and Wales, we analysed parental attitudes towards school-parent communication about RSHE, the teaching of RSHE in school, and their own communication with their children about relationships and sex at home, exploring perceived barriers and use of resources. We found significant parental support for school-based RSHE, alongside some concerns, as well as uncertainty and embarrassment as barriers to parent-child communication about relationships and sex at home, indicating the need for schools to strengthen school-parent partnership in this area, and to encourage parents to talk to their children at home in tandem with what is being taught in school.

Keywordsparents
sexuality education
relationships education
home-based
schools
JournalSex Education
Journal citation24 (6), pp. 868-885
ISSN1468-1811
1472-0825
Year2024
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Publisher's version
License
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2023.2257602
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.1080/14681811.2023.2257602
Publication dates
Published online29 Sep 2023
Published in print2024
Supplemental file
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)

Related outputs

A Queer Sexuality Education: The Possibilities and Impossibilities of Knowing
Rudoe, N. 2023. A Queer Sexuality Education: The Possibilities and Impossibilities of Knowing. in: Rodriguez, N.M., Mizzi, R.C., Allen, L. and Cover, R. (ed.) Queer Studies and Education: An International Reader Oxford University Press. pp. 47-64

‘We believe in every child as an individual’: Nursery School head teachers’ understandings of ‘quality’ in early years education
Rudoe, N. 2020. ‘We believe in every child as an individual’: Nursery School head teachers’ understandings of ‘quality’ in early years education. British Educational Research Journal. 46 (5), pp. 1012-1025. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3610

Lesbian and gay teachers and sex/uality education policy enactment in schools
Rudoe, N. 2018. Lesbian and gay teachers and sex/uality education policy enactment in schools. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education. 39 (6), pp. 926-940. https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2017.1310085

Book Review: addicted.pregnant.poor by K. R. Knight
Rudoe, N. 2017. Book Review: addicted.pregnant.poor by K. R. Knight. Women's Studies International Forum. 60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2016.10.006

School exclusion and educational inclusion of pregnant young women
Rudoe, N. 2014. School exclusion and educational inclusion of pregnant young women. Ethnography and Education. 9 (1), pp. 66-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/17457823.2013.828477

Out in Britain: the politics of sexuality education and lesbian and gay teachers in schools
Rudoe, N. 2014. Out in Britain: the politics of sexuality education and lesbian and gay teachers in schools. in: Harris, A. and Gray, E.M. (ed.) Queer teachers, identity and performativity Houndmills, Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 60-74

Becoming a young mother: teenage pregnancy and parenting policy
Rudoe, N. 2014. Becoming a young mother: teenage pregnancy and parenting policy. Critical Social Policy. 24 (3), pp. 293-311. https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018314526007

Book review: 'Adolescence’, pregnancy and abortion: constructing a threat of degeneration
Rudoe, N. 2011. Book review: 'Adolescence’, pregnancy and abortion: constructing a threat of degeneration. Women's Studies International Forum. 34 (5), p. 476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2011.06.002

Lesbian teachers' identity, power and the public/private boundary
Rudoe, N. 2010. Lesbian teachers' identity, power and the public/private boundary. Sex Education. 10 (1), pp. 23-36. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681810903491347

Book review: Lesbian motherhood: gender, families and sexual citizenship
Rudoe, N. 2010. Book review: Lesbian motherhood: gender, families and sexual citizenship. European Societies. 12 (4), pp. 595-596. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616691003665729

Class cultures and the meaning of young motherhood
Rudoe, N. and Thomson, R. 2009. Class cultures and the meaning of young motherhood. in: Graham, H. (ed.) Understanding health inequalities (2nd edition) Berkshire Open University Press. pp. 162-180

Motherhood, choice and the British media: a time to reflect
Hadfield, L., Rudoe, N. and Sanderson-Mann, J. 2007. Motherhood, choice and the British media: a time to reflect. Gender and Education. 19 (2), pp. 255-263. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540250601166100

Book review: Standing out, standing together: the social and political impact of gay-straight alliances
Rudoe, N. 2007. Book review: Standing out, standing together: the social and political impact of gay-straight alliances. Gender and Education. 19 (6), pp. 749-750. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540250701650755

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/w56x6/parental-attitudes-to-school-and-home-based-relationships-sex-and-health-education-evidence-from-a-cross-sectional-study-in-england-and-wales


Share this

Usage statistics

96 total views
66 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.