Building Loving and Lasting Relationships
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.
What’s Covered?
Session 1: Consent
Building on students’ learning in Year 9, this session approaches this complex topic in more depth in an age-appropriate way.
Session Aims:
To understand:
- the meaning of consent and know how to apply it in a sexual relationship
- relevant aspects of UK law
- that consent is a key part of a healthy relationship
- How to communicate their own boundaries within a sexual relationship
Session 2: Impact of Pornography
Session Aims:
- To think critically about how pornography can affect our attitudes and behaviours in a relationship.
- To understand that internet pornography:
– is not an accurate portrayal of healthy, realistic sexual relationships
– can negatively influence attitudes to ourselves (including body image) and others (including misogynistic attitudes) and behaviour within a sexual relationship
– can normalise harmful and degrading sexual behaviours such as non-fatal strangulation
– is designed to be a difficult habit to stop and that longterm, heavy porn use can have physical impacts, such as erectile dysfunction
Session 3: Love
Session Aim:
For students to understand the features and recognise the value of a relationship built on respect and commitment and to consider what kind of relationship makes the best context for sex.
Students will:
- Consider the meaning and role of love in a relationship
- Be able to identify features of healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships and know where to get help
- Understand the value of reconnecting sex with respect and commitment in relationships
