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Education sessions for young people

Brook provides participative, informative and engaging sessions in schools and other settings aimed at facilitating evidence-based discussions around sex, sexuality and relationships. These sessions increase young people’s knowledge and provide them with the vocabulary and skills to communicate with their peers, parents and professionals. 

In 2021/22, we delivered education sessions to over 135k young people across the UK. 

About the sessions and our approach

We take a holistic approach to delivering RSE drawn from our wealth of expertise. We offer a wide range of topics to cover all areas of sexual health and relationships, supporting young people throughout their year and school journey.

All of our sessions have been quality assured and are delivered by Brook’s fully trained Education and Wellbeing Specialists, so you can have confidence in the quality, accuracy and value of our teaching.  

Each session is tailored to the needs of your students and includes a range of activities to support different learning preferences and to make sure students get the most out of the session. Activities can include storytelling, small group work, presentations, films/videos, handouts, kinaesthetic activities, and values exploration, amongst many more.  

How do sessions meet mandatory RSE requirements? Click to learn more

At Brook, we prioritise the importance of providing accurate, comprehensive, and age-appropriate education sessions on relationships and sex education (RSE) that meet the UK’s guidance.  

This is especially important in the current climate, where young people may be exposed to a wide range of conflicting and potentially harmful information through social media and other sources.   

All of our education sessions are mapped out to meet the guidance provided by the UK government. We then combine the guidance with our expert knowledge and best practice to ensure that we create a safe space for young people to receive accurate and unbiased information.  

By choosing Brook you can be confident that our expert delivery will meet the government’s guidance. However, we also recognise that every young person is unique and may have different needs, so we are willing to adapt our approach and go beyond the guidance when necessary, in order to fully meet the needs of our students. By choosing Brook, you can trust that your young people will receive the best possible education and support to make informed and healthy decisions about their relationships and sexual health. 

What do we mean by a spiral curriculum?

We believe the most effective RSE is achieved through a spiral curriculum – key messages need to be introduced and reinforced throughout a young person’s education; it’s no good delivering one-off lessons when young people reach a certain age without having laid the foundations for this topic in the years before.  

That’s why all the topics mentioned below are relevant for several year groups, but with adjusted, relevant and age-appropriate teachings for each one. These topics follow students throughout their school life, as their awareness and needs change and as they grow both physically and emotionally.  

How much are sessions and how long do they last?

Prices start from £125 per session. 
The recommended minimum duration for a session is 50 minutes, but we will work with you to accommodate your timetable and the needs of your students. 

Don’t see what you’re looking for below?

These are just some ideas of what we can offer and sessions we have delivered in the past.

Each session we deliver is unique.

Core topics

We’ve gathered together some of our most popular core topics that should be covered as part of a robust and responsive RSE curriculum, including details of how they should be approached at both primary and secondary level. 

Sexual health rights and responsibilities

As young people grow up, it’s important they understand the changes to their bodies, how to keep themselves safe and how to maintain their physical, sexual and mental health.  

Make an enquiry

At primary level (ages 8-11) Click to learn more

Effective teaching around puberty and the changes this brings to our bodies and emotions is a core topic at this level and provides a foundation for later teaching more focussed on sexual health Introducing appropriate terminology about bodies can help keep children safe by giving them the language to communicate when something is wrong.  

Available sessions:

  • Puberty
  • Periods. 
At secondary level (ages 11-16)

Lessons on puberty are still relevant to this age group but new topics are introduced that support young people as they become more interested in sex and romantic relationships. This includes understanding the importance of contraception and condoms, identifying, preventing, testing and treating STIs and understanding the three main choices someone has if they become pregnant. 

Available sessions:

  • Condoms and contraception
  • STIs
  • HPV
  • Pregnancy choices. 
Opening quotation marks

The staff were very confident and respectful, they went over everything and it didn’t feel embarrassing.

Emma, 14 

Healthy and harmful sexual behaviours

This subject builds through the year groups, beginning in with learning about equality and friendships through to learning about sexual harassment and violence. Ongoing reinforcement of what a healthy relationship looks like, including consent, helps young people to understand how to treat others and how they should be treated. 

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At primary level (ages 8-11) Click to learn more

As young people become more aware of their bodies, it’s important that they understand what it means to have ownership over your own body and how to give and get consent for any type of non-sexual touching e.g. hugging.  

In terms of healthy relationships, at this age, young people learn about healthy relationships in terms of friendships; what they look like, how to treat others, the impact our actions have on others and equality. 

At secondary level (ages 11-18)

At this level, relationships also include romantic relationships as well as friendships. As romantic relationships are first introduced, young people explore the values they associate with a healthy relationship and consider what behaviours can make a relationship problematic.  

This understanding about what a healthy relationships is comprised of is closely linked to lessons on consent. Consent is a topic on its own but should also be discussed in relation to other topics such as youth produced sexual imagery (sexting).  

For older year groups, lessons about that the law says about sex and what constitutes sexual harassment ensure young people know their responsibilities and how to get support.  

Available sessions:

  • Sex and the law
  • Sexual harassment
  • Consent
  • Healthy and harmful relationships.
Opening quotation marks

It was really well organised and the pupils certainly were engaged throughout…this is considered one of our “toughest” year groups so the fact that they were so well behaved shows just how engaging it was.

Catholic school, East of England  

The self and the online world

The digital world brings with it many opportunities, but there are also many challenges for young people to navigate. Some of these are entirely new challenges, while others are the same challenges but in a different, often more intrusive, form. This topic ensures young people know how to keep themselves safe online, how to treat others online, and how to deal with the negative effects of things like social media and pornography. 

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At primary level (ages 8-11) Click to learn more

Online safety is a key topic throughout the school journey, but this teaching begins in primary school with the basics of how to keep yourself safe online. For older years, a session on the influence of social media on body image may also be age-appropriate.  

Available sessions:

  • Body image
  • Online safety.
At secondary level (ages 11-16)

Building upon a basic understanding of online safety acquired at primary level, students in secondary school enhance their knowledge with more specific focus on different aspects of online safety including online relationships, image sharing and grooming.  

Available sessions:

  • Online safety
  • Pornography
  • Youth produced sexual imagery
  • Online Misogyny, Real World Impacts

Breaking barriers and stigma

RSE has a significant role to play in reducing stigma around different areas of sex, sexual health and relationships. Our educators can deliver specific sessions that are aimed at encouraging a deeper understanding and reducing stigma around various topics. 

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At primary level (ages 8-11) Click to learn more

Combating stigma forms a natural part of sessions with young people.  

Puberty and anatomy are foundational to young people understanding their sexual health. During primary school we offer a number of sessions on puberty, including learning about body changes, reproduction and pregnancy and how puberty can affect everyone’s bodies differently.  

Available sessions:

  • Puberty
  • periods.
At secondary level (ages 11-16)

In secondary school, we can carry on our conversations about puberty to talk about the stigma and taboos around menstruation. Moving on from this we identify ways for someone to manage their own menstrual cycle and support others.  

We also begin to discuss the difference between biological sex and gender identify. We discuss that sexuality is unique for each person and exists on a spectrum. Throughout conversations on gender or sexuality, we want young people to understand the consequences of stereotyping, to recognise the unacceptability of discrimination and promote inclusivity and equality.  

Available sessions:

  • Gender, norms and diversity
  • Sexual orientation and stereotypes
  • Erection problems
  • Pleasure
  • Periods
  • Society
  • Understanding and Challenging Gender Stereotypes and Misogyny
Opening quotation marks

They made everyone feel equal, it was really fun and helpful.

Young person, 13, BHSA 

Mental health and wellbeing

At Brook we take a holistic approach to RSE, recognising that mental, physical and sexual health are all intertwined and that a robust knowledge of each is necessary to fully support young people with living happy and healthy lives. With the rise in mental health conditions among young people, these topics have never been as needed as they are today. 

Make an enquiry 

At primary level (ages 8-11) Click to learn more

It’s important that young people are introduced to mental health from an early age. At the primary level this looks at peer pressure, what makes a good friend, self esteem and confidence and consent and social media.

Available sessions:

  • Healthy relationships
  • Self-esteem
  • Consent.
At secondary level (ages 11-16)

Mental health and wellbeing go into more depth at the secondary level, focusing on key areas of wellbeing  related to this age including drugs and alcohol and mental health conditions.  

Available sessions:

  • Mental health awareness
  • Drugs and alcohol.
Opening quotation marks

I felt like I have learnt a lot from this. I feel like I can be more myself now and be more confident because I know how other people feel as well.

Pupil, 14

FAQs

How many students can be in a session?

Classroom workshops are capped at 30 young people, allowing the sessions to be more interactive and engaging, with opportunity for group activities and discussions in order to explore the topics more in-depth. 

What are the advantages of having an external educator deliver a session?

There are several reasons why bringing in an external educator from Brook can lead to a more impactful and meaningful lesson: 

  • Students are more likely to pay greater attention and be more involved and engaged. This can help particularly with problematic classes. 
  • Our Brook educators are trained to deal with difficult questions in an age-appropriate way 
  • Students may be more hesitant to ask certain questions with their usual teacher delivering the class. For all our workshops we create a safe space and have great engagement from students who don’t normally participate in lessons.  
  • Brook educators are trained on how to deliver more challenging subjects in an inclusive and safe way that follows RSE guidelines. This may be particularly important if your school is lacking support with its RSE delivery, whether that’s internally or externally from parents and carers.  
How many topics can be covered in one session?

We cover one topic per session, so for example an hour’s session on consent or an hour’s session on STIs. We find this leads to a far more effective lesson rather than trying to cover too much content. 

More FAQs

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All Sessions

Sexual health rights and responsibilities 

Puberty

Puberty is a topic that spans different age groups, usually beginning around year 4 where sessions cover the idea of change and growing in relation to our bodies and feelings. Building upon this basic introductory session, puberty sessions can specialise on particular elements including, but not limited to, naming the reproductive organs, learning about pregnancy, menstruation and body changes.  

Pregnancy choices

Recommended for secondary schools, this workshop introduces the three main choices that someone has when they are pregnant, including what the law says and what factors might influence their decision.  

Condoms and contraception

These sessions can be delivered from year 8 through to year 13. Topics covered include the different contraception methods, the importance of contraception, how to use a condom and common errors, the implications of an unplanned pregnancy and understanding how to access local health and support services.  

STIs

These sessions can be delivered from year 8 through to year 13. Topics covered may include the different types of STIs, the importance of getting tested and receiving treatment, how to prevent STIs and reducing the stigma around STIs.   

HPV

This session is ideal to offer before the HPV vaccine but can also be delivered after the vaccine rollout. The aim of this session is to improve students’ awareness of HPV, the different kinds and how it is transmitted and treated. It would also cover the role and importance of both the HPV vaccine and the cervical screening process.  

Introduction to sexual health

Some students benefit from an introduction to sexual health session that covers a few different topics, including contraception, how to use condoms, importance of STI testing, understanding consent and knowing how to access sexual health services and support. 

Risk-taking behaviour

These sessions allow your pupils discuss risk-taking behaviour in a safe environment. In earlier years we discuss peer pressure and positive encouragement and think about how people can take risks safely. For older groups, we identify the consequences of legal and illegal substances on people’s mental and physical health, help young people manage risky situations and understand how to keep themselves and others safe, and explore positive and dangerous risks and why people take them.  

Healthy and harmful sexual behaviours

Healthy and harmful relationships 

Building upon sessions about friendships, this session on healthy and harmful relationships is crucial for young people as they begin to explore relationships. This ranges from year 8-9 with what people look for in a partner and identifying harmful behaviours through to year 11 and 12 with different types of abuse. With a comprehensive relationships education that takes into account the core challenges that are unique to each year group, young people are empowered to make healthy decisions around relationships and have open discussions with their support network.  

Consent  

At Brook, we believe consent should be taught throughout a child’s life. Teaching consent begins with identifying which parts of the body are private and how to ask and give permission with all behaviours. Later years are then able to build upon this understanding in everyday life and apply it to sex. Sessions can be delivered on a range of elements of consent including consent and social media or with a particular focus on alcohol and drugs.  

Sex and the Law 

This topic builds upon consent and recognising that some unhealthy behaviours within relationships are criminal. It discusses power and what is meant by ‘position of trust’ and the legal age of consent. 

Sexual harassment and violence 

This topic builds upon those before it about healthy relationships and consent. For younger years this would focus on how to keep your body safe and where to go if you feel unsafe. For older age groups this session explores what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and how to deal with sexual harassment and violence. We recommend that, for years 10 and above, young people receive a lesson on consent before attending a lesson on sexual harassment.  

The self and online world

Body image 

Teachings about body image and the influence of social media are relevant to all age groups, especially as young people go through puberty and begin to become more aware of their bodies and how they look. Sessions on body image discuss the negative influence of social media and encourage young people to consider how they can reduce the negative influence of social media. 

Online safety and youth produced sexual imagery (sexting) 

This topic is most relevant for years 8-11. With online relationships comes new challenges including the pressure of sending sexual imagery, receiving unwanted sexual imagery and how to stay safe online more generally when it comes to relationships.   

Pornography

It’s natural for young people to be curious about pornography but it’s also important that they understand what it is and what it isn’t, what the law says and the negative consequences it can have. Pornography is a topic delivered in an age-appropriate way to the older years.  

Online Misogyny, Real World Impacts

In response to increasing concerns about the dangerous impact of online misogyny on students, Brook has developed this education session to help tackle harmful misogynistic narratives. This session, aimed at Year 10 and 11, raises awareness of the harmful impacts of online misogyny and encourages students to develop bystander skills to challenge gender-based abuse online.

Breaking barriers and stigma

Gender, norms and diversity 

Teaching about gender can sometimes be tricky to get right. Our Brook educators are trained in how to deliver lessons and workshops on gender that are age-appropriate, inclusive and able to respond to questions young people may have. These sessions can be delivered each year through secondary school, with a unique lesson plan designed for that particular age that builds upon the one before it. Topics may include the difference between sexuality and gender, different gender identities and the impact of stereotyping and discrimination. 

Understanding and Challenging Gender Stereotypes and Misogyny

In response to increasing concerns about the dangerous impact of online misogyny on students, Brook has developed this education session to help tackle harmful misogynistic narratives. This session aimed at Year 9 students introducers learners to the harmful effects of misogyny and challenges unfair gender stereotypes that reinforce limited notions of masculinity and femininity.

Sexual orientation and stereotypes 

Teaching about sexual orientation can sometimes be challenging, but our Brook educators are trained in how to deliver lessons and workshops on sexuality that are age-appropriate, inclusive and able to respond to questions young people may have. These sessions can be delivered to all classes in secondary school with a unique lesson plan designed for that particular year group. Topics may include the different sexual orientations, the impact of stereotyping and discrimination and the uniqueness of sexual orientation for each individual. 

Periods and society 

All children should be taught about periods in a timely and supportive way so that they are prepared for the changes puberty brings to their bodies and feelings, and so that they can understand the changes others are going through as well. Lessons on periods are designed to follow children through their school years, beginning with an introduction to periods in year 5 and 6 and building upon these sessions to delve deeper into the topic in later years by challenging values and taboos around periods and how they’re portrayed in society. 

Erection problems 

This topic delves into the pressures and expectations relating to relationships and sex and understanding how to deal with these. It encourages young people to consider the impact of gender stereotyping and myths around sexual pleasure.  

Pleasure 

Pleasure is a topic that should be embedded throughout RSE. Our sessions focusing on pleasure are aimed at older age groups and challenging pleasure related myths such as sex only involves penetration or that first time sex should be painful.  

Learn more about why we teach about pleasure  

Mental health and wellbeing

Self-esteem 

A solid understanding of mental health begins with the lower years and learning about topics such as self-esteem. Understanding that we all have individual qualities and how we can support positive self-esteem provides young people with a good grounding to understanding mental health.  

Mental health awareness 

This session will support young people in identifying different mental health conditions, help them understand how to get help for themselves and guide them on how they can offer support to  someone else.