Socially Responsible Initiatives

Summary of work

Sex and relationships education (SRE) is a challenging subject. Poor-quality SRE is considered to have a similar impact to no SRE. It’s essential that schools, teachers and students are given the best possible chance of success.

There’s overwhelming evidence to support the value and need for SRE - yet schools struggle to accommodate SRE within their timetables, and there’s a lack of incentive to do so. Although there’s a statutory requirement for schools to have an SRE policy, that policy could be to offer SRE that only covers the compulsory subjects of reproduction, sexuality and sexual health.

There are no set frameworks for SRE and no OFSTED assessment for SRE provision. Compiling an SRE curriculum is often left to the SRE teacher: while there’s an abundance of external SRE resources, there’s no all-inclusive programme built around a whole-school approach.

DO… is an innovative new educational initiative that shifts the focus from information-driven learning to an approach that empowers young people and promotes best practice teaching. It’s been developed by the DO… collaboration, a unique partnership between leading experts in SRE, Durex and Hive.

The DO… resources for teachers have been awarded the PSHE Association Quality Mark for best practice PSHE resources.

Judges' comments

This was a very strong programme, connecting different organisations with high quality information to improve the teaching of SRE in schools. It had good endorsement from, and engagement with, credible organisations to support the initiative.