Shropshire Council wins award for innovative education programme
Left to right: Alice Cruttwell, Alison Hadley, Kay Smallbone, Paul McCabe and Susan Quilliam.
Shropshire Council has won a prestigious national award recognising the quality and effectiveness of its relationship and sex education programme for schools.
The council was yesterday (Thursday 15 March 2012) presented with the Pamela Sheridan Innovation in Sex and Relationship Education Award after being chosen from six finalists.
The award was part of the first ever UK Sexual Health Awards hosted by sexual health charities Brook and FPA and showcased some of the best creative and innovative work in sexual health. The council was awarded £1,000 worth of FPA resources as part of the prize.
The Shropshire Respect Yourself Relationship and Sex Education Programme recognised at the awards has been developed by Shropshire Council with Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) and primary and secondary schools in the county. It offers training and support to teachers, and includes resources for delivering an interactive programme of relationship and sex education from year 6 to year 11.
The aim is to ensure that teachers have the skills and confidence to deliver high-quality, effective relationship and sex education, based on a whole school approach and home school partnership.
Shropshire is reaping the benefits of its approach and partnership working, achieving a year on year reduction in teenage pregnancies.
Sarah Teather MP, the Minister of State for Children and Families, said:
“The Importance of Teaching – The Schools White paper 2010, makes it clear that children need high-quality Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) so they can make wise and informed choices.
“The Shropshire Respect Yourself Relationship and Sex Education Programme is well deserving of the Pamela Sheridan Award, providing a platform for primary and secondary schools to learn and improve on the delivery of SRE. My congratulations to all who worked hard to create an SRE model which stems from effective collaborative work amongst key partners; including parents, teachers, pastoral staff and governors. Very well done to all.”
Kay Smallbone, health development manager at Shropshire Council, said:
“We are very excited to have won this national award.
“The programme reflects the commitment from Shropshire schools, Shropshire Council and Shropshire County Primary Care Trust to deliver the very best for our students. It is their enthusiasm and commitment that has made this project possible.”
Councillor Karen Burgoyne, Shropshire Council deputy Cabinet member, said:
“We are working closely with children, young people including those who are most at risk, parents and partner organisations, to improve ways that young people receive appropriate, accurate information about relationships and sexual health.
“The range of education, prevention and support offered is making a difference. The number of teenage pregnancies in Shropshire is at its lowest in more than a decade, and we have received very positive feedback to this RSE programme.”
Lesley Talbot, public health nurse specialist and programme lead for sexual health for Shropshire County PCT, added:
“This award recognises the hard work that the team has carried out in ensuring effective sexual health education in our county’s schools.
“I would like to congratulate the team on receiving this recognition. Delivering quality sexual health advice in schools remains a priority for us, to ensure that young adults have access to the information they need to make the right choices.”
The six categories in the awards were:
- Sexual health professional of the year
- JLS young person of the year
- Rosemary Goodchild Award for excellence in sexual health journalism
- Adult sexual health service/project of the year
- Young people’s sexual health service/project of the year
- Pamela Sheridan Award for Innovation in SRE
An award for Lifetime Achievement in sexual health was also presented on the evening.
For more information on the UK Sexual Health Awards go to www.uksexualhealthawards.org.uk
Further information
Pamela Sheridan (1911-1994) had a lifelong involvement in family planning and was an early sex education pioneer.
FPA (Family Planning Association)
The sexual health charity FPA provides straightforward information, advice and support to all people across the UK on all aspects of sexual health, sex and relationships. FPA educates, informs and supports people through our work in the community, our helpline and information service, our counselling service, our training and publications and our public awareness campaigns. Go to www.fpa.org.uk. The FPA helpline is 0845 122 8690.
Brook
Brook is the UK’s leading provider of sexual health services and advice for young people under 25. The charity has over 45 years of experience working with young people and currently has services in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Jersey. Brook services provide free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and outreach and education work, reaching over 300,000 young people every year. Go to www.brook.org.uk. The Ask Brook helpline is 0808 802 1234.
