Formative Assessments in PSHE: Sex and Relationships Survey

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PSHE discussion scenarios for sex and relationships - teacher notes

These questions feature hypothetical situations relating to sex and relationships, to which students are asked to respond honestly and anonymously. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions: instead, whole class responses can be projected (or written) onto a whiteboard for a plenary discussion, in which students express and explore their opinions about the relevant issues. Please note that most of the questions are phrased ‘What happens next?’ Students are being asked to decide what they think the different characters will actually decide to do in these situations. This will allow them to explore their ideas more freely without feeling that they need to pick the response the teacher is hoping for.

The following notes offer a few starting points to stimulate class discussion:

Scenario: Stacey and Billy are both 14 and have been going out together for 8 months. Billy sometimes spreads stories about Stacey at school. One night Billy persuades Stacey to stay out until 4am and her parents call the police. They tell Stacey that she can’t go out with Billy and that she is moving schools to get away from him. What happens next?

Issues to debate might include:

• What sort of people Billy and Stacey are

• Stacey and Billy’s rights and responsibilities at age 14

• The importance of communication between parents and children

• The difficulties parents face when trying to protect their children whilst allowing them independence

• The right of parents to decide what’s best for their children

• The right of children to behave independently of their parents

Scenario: Kate is 16 and still at school. She has just ‘come out’ as a lesbian. Her parents have gay friends and are understanding of their sexuality. However, when Kate tells them about her 19-year-old lover, Marilyn, they tell her she must stop seeing her or they will throw her out of the house. What happens next?

Issues to debate might include:

• Parents’ attitudes to the sexuality of their own children, as opposed to their friends

• Kate’s rights and responsibilities as a 16-year-old living with her parents

• The age gap between the two girls, and the possibility that Marilyn might take advantage of Kate

• The right of parents to decide what’s best for their children

• The right of children to behave independently of their parents

Scenario: Natalie is 16, and has been a prostitute for two years. She is ‘looked after’ by Mark, who takes most of her earnings and gives her a small percentage to live on. She has recently been beaten up by one of her clients and is desperate to get away from the life she has been leading. She has not seen any member of her family for 2 years. What should she do?

Issues to debate might include:

• The dangers of prostitution

• The legal status of a prostitute

• What makes people turn to prostitution

• Natalie’s feelings towards her family

• The difficulties of leaving prostitution

Scenario: Marie is 15 and has a ‘bright future’ ahead of her. Six weeks after going to a party she discovers she is pregnant. She was too drunk to remember what happened and thinks that she had sex with more than one boy. Her parents are strongly against abortion and she has mixed feelings about it. She puts off doing anything and is now 10 weeks pregnant. What does Marie do next?

Issues to debate might include:

• The laws surrounding when abortions are available

• The short- and long-term health risks of having an abortion

• The importance of seeking support when making a big decision like this

• Who the father is, and what his attitude to the baby is likely to be

• The advantages and disadvantages of Marie keeping the baby

• How her parents’ attitude to abortion might affect her decision

Scenario: Amy is 15. She has just told her best friend, Donna, that she has been sexually abused for the past two years by her dad’s best friend, Bobby. Amy has asked Donna not to say anything because she is afraid that her parents will blame her for what has happened. Bobby and Amy’s dad have been best friends since they were at school together. What does Donna do?

Issues to debate might include:

• The importance of reporting sexual abuse

• The balance between keeping a promise to a friend and doing the right thing

• How Amy’s mum and dad might react to the news

• The reasons why Amy told Donna about the abuse

Scenario: Kelly, 14, and Steven, 16, have just been told by their mother, Jacqui, that she has AIDs. She had casual unprotected sex while on holiday and has been HIV positive for many years. Their father died 12 years previously and their mum has not had a serious relationship since. What do Kelly and Steven do?

Issues to debate might include:

• The dangers of having unprotected sex

• The social stigma attached to sexually transmitted diseases

• The emotional needs of Kelly, Steven and Jacqui

• The practical considerations of Jacqui’s condition

• Jacqui’s right to privacy

Scenario: Jon and Emma are both 16 and have been going out for 6 weeks. Emma is pushing Jon to have sex with her. Emma is very experienced sexually while Jon is still a virgin. What happens next?

Issues to debate might include:

• The difference in sexual experience between Jon and Emma, and how this might affect their relationship

• The role of peer pressure in personal relationships

• The importance of making informed decisions about your sex life

• The importance of communication between partners when starting a sexual relationship

• What are the ‘right’ circumstances under which to lose your virginity

Scenario: Kirsty is 14 and has a long-term boyfriend, Dean, who is 15. Kirsty’s mum talks to her about Dean and tells Kirsty that it is time she went on the birth pill so that ‘You are totally safe’. Dean says that he isn’t too sure about Kirsty going on the pill, but her mother makes an appointment to go to the doctors with Kirsty to get a prescription. What does Kirsty do?

Issues to debate might include:

• The role of parents in educating their children about contraception

• The benefits and risks of the contraceptive pill, and the alternatives

• Why Dean is unsure about Kirsty going on the pill

• Whether Kirsty and Dean are ready for sex

• The importance of communicating about sex with partners and parents

Scenario: Luke is 16 and a virgin. He feels that sex is very special and wants to wait until he finds the ‘right girl’. His three best friends have started to tease him about the fact that he has not had sex. One Friday night, the four friends go to the house of another friend and Luke discovers that it has been set up for him to be locked in a bedroom with Sally, who has a reputation in school for being ‘easy’. What happens next?

Issues to debate might include:

• The different attitudes to sex which people hold

• The role of peer pressure in affecting young people’s sexual behaviour

• How genuine Luke’s friends are

• How Sally feels about the way she is treated

Scenario: Six girls go on a school holiday to Italy. They are all 15 and are sharing six-bedded rooms at the hotel. Three of the girls in one room meet three boys from another school and invite them back to their bedroom. The three boys are expecting to have sex. The three other girls sharing the room find out and are very worried, as they have heard that the boys are bringing more friends with them. What do the three girls who have not invited the boys do?

Issues to debate might include:

• The role of peer pressure in affecting young people’s sexual behaviour

• The importance of refusing any unwanted sexual advances

• The difficulty of reporting peers for misbehaviour