This lesson builds upon learning of ‘Sex and Relationships’ and explores the pressures faced by young people to send ‘nudes’ or sexual communications that make them vulnerable online.
This lesson creates opportunity to take a critical look at the social and peer influences affecting our opportunity to discuss social pressures and expose the risks to our mental health and wellbeing make this a key part of effective Relationships and Sex Education. This lesson provides, ‘time for open discussion on topics that children and young people tell us they find particularly difficult, such as consent and the sending of ‘nudes.’ (Ofsted report into RSE review 2021)
90% of girls, and nearly 50% of boys, said being sent explicit pictures or videos of things they did not want to see happens a lot or sometimes to them or their peers.’ (Ofsted Review of sexual abuse in school and colleges, June 2021)
‘In the first 6 months of 2020, 44% of all child sexual abuse content dealt with by the IWF was assessed as containing self-generated images or videos, compared with 29% in 2019.’ (‘The Internet Watch Foundation: Annual Report 2019, The Internet Watch Foundation, April 2020)
Ideal for Year 10 and above.
Of the online abuse dealt with by the IWF involving 16-17 year olds, 61% of imagery was self-generated.
Internet Watch Foundation, Annual Report 2020, Self-generated child sexual abuse and contact child sexual abuse
Learning Objectives
Identify the dangers of sending or receiving indecent images
Explore how societies view of relationships can be affected by the media
Understand our own value and that of others
Key Content
Characteristics of positive relationships and an exploration of values in platonic and romantic relationships
Student discussion in response to topical real-life scenarios
Definitions of key terms, facts, statistics and key aspects of the law regarding sexting
Social influences affecting perceptions and experiences of romantic relationships
Challenges and risks of sexting
Encourages reporting of sexual harassment, abuse and inappropriate sexual behaviour
Signposting to appropriate agencies and an opportunity to access support and guidance (including CEOP Safety Centre, NHS information on STIs, and Report Remove from Childline)
Christian responses to the topic and opportunities to develop students own understanding of beliefs and those of others
Key curriculum themes
Self-concept, Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
Positive Relationships, Relationship Values, Forming and Maintaining Respectful Relationships, Bullying, Abuse and Discrimination, Social Influences
Media Literacy and Digital Resilience
