New Expert Healthy Relationships Group To Advise On Curriculum

A new expert group to advise on healthy relationships in the current school curriculum in Wales is to be chaired by a Cardiff University academic. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Set up by Education Secretary Kirsty Williams, the panel will provide advice and support on issues relating to the delivery of healthy relationships education within the curriculum. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This includes a range of areas such as improving understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues, violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, respect and consent, sexism and bullying. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Emma Renold, Professor of childhood studies at the University’s School of Social Sciences will chair the panel.
A whole education approach ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Author of Children, Sexuality and Sexualisation, Professor Renold is internationally recognised for her work on gender and sexuality in childhood and youth across a wide range of areas including; bullying, violence, ‘sexualisation’, relationship cultures and identities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She has championed a whole education approach to sex and relationships education that is inclusive of all genders and sexualities, and embedded in an equalities and rights-based framework. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Recently, Professor Renold led the production of Wales’ – and the UK’s – first online toolkit to support young people to raise awareness of gender-based and sexual violence in schools and local communities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

AGENDA: A Young People’s Guide to Making Positive Relationships Matter, features 11 case studies on a number of issues, including sexism, sexual harassment, LGBT+ relationships and FGM (Female Genital Mutilation). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The resources in AGENDA empower young people to safely and creatively speak out about and challenge entrenched gender inequalities and gender-based and sexual violence. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She has also been at the forefront of changes to policy, with her work impacting on the Welsh Government’s Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Act.
‘Internationally recognised’ ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kirsty Williams said: “Providing good quality learning for children and young people on healthy relationships is essential to tackling a range of important issues and I want to have the best expert advice to help us achieve this. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted such an experienced figure as Professor Emma Renold has agreed to chair the group as she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this new role…” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Professor Renold added: “It is both a privilege and an honour to help support the effective delivery of sex and relationships education within the curriculum in Wales…” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​