Increasing access to education and training

At Brook, we pride ourselves on responding to the changing landscape in which young people operate both online and offline. We have developed new resources to counter harmful messaging to which young people may be exposed and supported teachers to navigate complex and challenging topics.  

Fighting period stigma

We have significantly expanded our presence in Wales through our period dignity project. A range of new resources for young people combined with training and support for professionals has addressed period stigma in more than 100 schools across Anglesey, Cardiff, Caerphilly and Ceredigion.  

Our second Big Period Lesson delivered in partnership with Lil-Lets provided information and support to more than 61,300 young people and teachers on periods, puberty and bodies in March 2023.  

Tacking misogyny

Brook welcomes the recommendations of The Women and Equalities Committee report that schools should “train all teachers how to engage boys and young men in conversations that challenge prevailing gender norms, ideas of masculinity, and attitudes towards women and girls.” Aligned with the recommendations, Brook has developed and delivered new education sessions teaching young people about gender stereotypes as well as new training courses for professionals on tackling misogyny and understanding masculinity.  

Through our Big RSE Lesson Live in September, we educated more than 67,500 young people and their teachers on challenging gender stereotypes and the real-world impact of misogyny.  

Our PSHE curriculum, which is now available in more than 319 primaries and 97 secondary schools., has been updated and expanded to include gender and stereotypes for KS3, as well as online misogyny for KS4.  

The sessions given to our Year 10 pupils on Understanding Sexual Violence & Harassment, Youth Produced Sexual Imagery, and Sexual Orientation and Stereotypes were excellent. The sessions were pitched at just the right level to the students and made a real impression on them, changing a lot of people’s attitudes. We look forward to working with Brook next year. 

Tim Chapelle, PHSE Lead at the King David School 

Suicide prevention

We forged a new partnership with The Martin Gallier Project, the UK’s first and only suicide prevention, intervention and postvention charity. Together we will develop and pilot new curriculum resources and training with a focus on suicide prevention.

Pornography education

2023 research by The Children’s Commissioner showed that the average age at which children first experience pornography is 13. At Brook, we know that RSHE has a vital role to play in ensuring that young people have the right tools to think critically about online content. That’s why we partnered with the British Board of Film Classification to launch teaching and learning materials for KS4 educators using clips from relevant and popular films and TV shows.  

I feel passionately that online safety should be taught throughout a young person’s education, in line with the Government’s statutory guidance. It goes without saying that RSHE lessons should not be taught in isolation, but always form part of a well-prepared curriculum at each Key Stage.”

Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, President of the BBFC 

Accessible online learning

Brook Learn is our online learning platform designed to help educators deliver high-quality, inclusive RSE and keep young people safe. More than 37,200 registered users accessed our 16 comprehensive courses covering topics from consent and contraception to abortion and gender diversity.  

New courses launched in 23/24