Who is Respected?

Respected is a charity providing a Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) programme for secondary school students (Years 7–11). We are a small team of highly experienced medical and educational professionals. Please see our Core Values and visit the Meet the Team to find out more.

What is the Respected programme?

Unlike traditional education, similar to what you may have experienced, that focused on biology, the Respected programme is holistic in its approach. With a particular emphasis on respect and commitment, it focuses on the emotional and social as well as the physical aspects of relationships. Our goal is to help young people build self-esteem, understand healthy boundaries and develop the critical thinking skills needed to navigate relationships in the modern world.

What exactly will my child be learning in each year group?

The Respected programme is ‘age-appropriate’, with each year building on the previous one. We only introduce topics when we know that it is an appropriate age to do so. We also try our best to explain complex issues in a way that is understandable and relevant to their stage of life.
At every stage, we highlight the benefits of speaking to a trusted adult about any aspect of relationships as well as signposting to other places to get support if necessary.

Please watch some of the Taster content clips to see the lessons in action but here is a summary of what is covered in each year group.

Year 7 (Think Again): Self esteem, Confident decision making and Safety

Think Again uses 3 T’s (Think, Talk, Tools) to help students make positive, informed decisions, particularly in the area of relationships, which are based on a healthy sense of self-worth.
It explores the qualities of healthy friendships and uses this as a foundation for healthy relationships. It applies the 3 T’s to 3 key areas: peer pressure, sexting and internet safety/grooming.

Year 8 (Real Connection): Critical thinking and empathy

Following on from Think Again (Year 7), Real Connection encourages students to use critical thinking skills to assess information, images or ideas before accepting them as true or letting them influence their attitudes and behaviour. We ask them to consider how they view themselves and others and how these views might impact romantic relationships.

We aim to empower them to think about themselves positively, to consider others with empathy and lead them to behave in a healthy way in relationships which benefits both themselves and others. Real Connection covers 4 key areas: body image, online influencers and internet pornography, gender stereotypes and healthy relationships.

Year 9 (I Wish):

I Wish explores the reasons why teenagers might choose to have sex and what they might need to consider before making that choice, including consent, unplanned pregnancy, STI’s and the emotional aspects of that choice. It educates students on how to keep themselves safe from the risks of teen sex, including information on contraception, condom use and STI testing. It examines the benefits of delaying sex until a long term committed relationship.

Year 10 & 11 (The Big L):

The Big L asks students to consider what they want in a relationship and what they feel are important ‘building blocks’ for loving and lasting relationships. This is done by exploring 3 key areas: consent, the impact of internet pornography and the role of respect, commitment and love in sexual relationships. It aims to reconnect sex with respect and commitment.

Can I see the materials my child is experiencing?

Absolutely. We value the vital role that parents and carers play in this area of education. We believe RSE is a partnership between home and school. Please visit our Parents and Carers page for more information, to watch taster content or sign up to view the full programme if you would like to.

Is this programme in line with government requirements?

Yes. The programme has been fully mapped against the 2026 Statutory Government Guidance for RSE. It covers all required topics, including:

  • Healthy and unhealthy relationships
  • Online safety and the harms of pornography
  • Consent and the law
  • Physical and mental wellbeing

Does the programme encourage teenagers to be sexually active?

No. In fact, the programme explicitly focuses on delaying sexual activity. It empowers students with the confidence to say “no” and helps them understand that they do not have to follow trends or peer pressure. Respected promotes respect for oneself and the benefits of delaying sex until a long-term committed relationship. Our programme is research-backed and there are studies which show that young people are more likely to delay their first sexual experience if they receive quality sex education and more likely to practice safer sex when they do decide to be sexually active (Sex education Forum, 2022)

RSE covers some sensitive issues. How are these lessons taught?

As an organisation, we strive to be respectful of young people at all times. Their mental and emotional health is of utmost importance to us. We encourage teachers to use ‘distancing techniques’ to make sure no student feels put on the spot. Instead of asking students about their own lives, the Respected programme uses films, stories and fictional characters. This allows students to discuss complex issues objectively without feeling embarrassed, ashamed or upset

Do you teach about gender identity?

No, we do not include lessons on the topic of gender identity but the Respected programme is designed to promote healthy and fulfilling relationships for all.

How does the programme handle the online world?

Your child’s safety is of paramount importance to us. We know that children can encounter misinformation and sometimes harmful content online. The Respected programme teaches critical thinking skills and gives them clear information on how to keep themselves safe. The lessons teach them how to Think about what they see, whether it’s unrealistic body standards on Instagram or harmful stereotypes in pornography, and understand that the online world is often not a reflection of reality. We encourage them to Talk to a trusted adult and signpost to Tools they can use for more support or information.

What if my child asks a question the teacher can’t answer (or shouldn’t answer)?

Teachers are trained to act professionally in these situations, and will follow the school’s policy on anything that may be of concern. The Respected programme includes Teacher Notes with detailed information and guidance for any areas where teachers may lack specialist knowledge. Please contact the school for more information regarding how this may be handled in an individual case.

Can I withdraw my child from these lessons?

Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from the ‘sex education’ elements of RSE (up until three terms before the child turns 16). However, the ‘relationships’ and ‘health’ aspects are statutory and mandatory for all students. Please contact your child’s school for more information but we would encourage you to first look at the taster material for our programme and also to meet with a member of staff at the school to discuss this further.