Resources

‘Working out Relationships?’ is a free-to-access lesson pack designed to bust common myths about the ‘perfect relationship’ and manage young people’s relationship expectations. We have just awarded it our Quality Mark for PSHE teaching resources.

The lessons draw on findings from an innovative 10-year research project on what helps long term relationships to thrive, and have been produced by academics at the University of Exeter. These materials will support planning for statutory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) from September.

Built around a short animation and accompanying infographic, the interactive 2-part lesson plans feature two fictitious 16-year old couples. One relationship involves a controlling partner, and pupils will learn how to identify and avoid such relationships and — where necessary — how to exit one safely. In lesson two, pupils will learn strategies to start to build positive, potentially lasting, relationships of their own.

The pack includes PowerPoint lessons one and two, accompanying teaching guides, video and infographic. The University will supply A4 and A3 laminated copies of the infographic for classroom walls free of charge on request.

PSHE Association Subject Specialist Elizabeth Laming says:
“We are delighted to award the Quality Mark to ‘Working out Relationships?’, which explores the attributes of unhealthy and healthy intimate relationships. In these lessons, pupils have the opportunity to analyse different relationship scenarios, explore key features of thriving relationships, and rehearse the skills needed to make healthy, knowledgeable and safe decisions about forming and maintaining such relationships, both now and in the future. This resource will support all teachers delivering RSE to KS4 pupils.”