Quality relationships and sexuality education

Quality relationships and sexuality education equips rangatahi with knowledge and skills that empower them to:  

• Develop healthy relationships
• Make informed choices
• Improve their mental and physical wellbeing

We are the largest provider of relationships and sexuality education resources and support for teachers and schools in Aotearoa. 
 
Relationships and sexuality education has been a required area of learning in The New Zealand Curriculum for Years 1-10 for over twenty years. Despite this, not all students are receiving the best quality relationships and sexuality education — many rangatahi are missing out on important learning. 
 
We wanted to hear from secondary school teachers about their experiences teaching relationships and sexuality education. To achieve this, we conducted a joint research project with the University of Canterbury and the New Zealand Health Education Association.  
 
Our research findings inform recommendations that we make for the improvement of relationships and sexuality education in Aotearoa. A key recommendation that we’ve made is: relationships and sexuality education should be taught in schools right through to year 13. 
 
In Aotearoa, compulsory relationships and sexuality education stops at year 10. Students from year 11-13 frequently receive no relationships and sexuality education at all. Many teachers and students agree that relationships and sexuality education in the senior years of secondary education would be both relevant and beneficial.