4. FAQ

FAQ: Our family aren’t actually practising Catholics, does this matter?

We trust that parents who have sent their children to Catholic schools will be sympathetic to their school’s Catholic ethos. Just as the Catholic faith is central to Catholic schools, so it is with the ‘Life to the Full’ programme, and we ask that families support it in the same way they do throughout daily school life.

Our assumption is that children, families and the teachers leading these sessions will come from a wide variety of backgrounds and belief structures, so our programme is sensitive to their needs, and fully inclusive of all.

In addition we hope you will agree that the curriculum content of ‘Life to the Full’ and all of the values and virtues developed within it are incredibly valuable and worthwhile regardless of faith status.

FAQ: What if my child comes home and asks difficult questions that I don’t know how to answer?

As a parent, you already have all the skills at your disposal to respond to curve-ball questions! However, when the subject content is sensitive it can feel more difficult, or even at times uncomfortable. Of course, our job is not to tell you how to parent your child, but here are some pointers that other parents have found helpful:

• Be honest. Information based on an untruth can lead to confusion and a sense of embarrassment when children realise they haven’t been told the truth.
• Never feel pressured to answer something immediately. You can always say, “Let me come back to you on that” and check in with your partner, or another parent or friend for advice. 
• “You’ll learn about that when you’re a bit older” can be an acceptable response. Children will know there is more to learn, just as they know there is more to learn about Maths beyond Year 1. Most children are happy with a response which acknowledges there is more to learn, but that they will learn about it at a later date.
• Never shame or embarrass children for the questions they ask. Most often, children are genuinely curious about topics such as puberty, and the chance to air their queries and exploratory thoughts should be pressure and judgement-free. Shame and embarrassment has too often been associated with education around sex and relationships – you might even have experienced this yourself – and this is the opposite of what we are trying to achieve through ‘Life to the Full’.

Our aim through this programme is to build children up as they discover the people they are called by God to be.

FAQ: Can I withdraw my child from the lessons?

The new Curriculum for Wales has removed the right of parents to withdraw their child from Relationships and Sexuality Education lessons. Given the Catholic principle of parents as ‘first educators’, the decision to remove this right was opposed by the Catholic Church.

Nevertheless, the fundamental principles of engaging parents and carers remains the same. Any school, particularly Catholic schools, should demonstrate:

• support
• transparency
• inclusion
• effective communication

If you have any queries about the content of any particular lesson beyond that which is on the Parent Portal, please do speak to your child’s school.

FAQ: What if my child is learning about something that I don’t think they should be?

Our programme is intended to be delivered by schools in consultation with parents, but of course some parents might still have queries. We’re only a small team at Ten Ten, so unfortunately, we’re not able to engage in direct correspondence with parents. The best thing to do is talk to your child’s class teacher who can contact us if they require any further information about the programme.

FAQ: How can I best support my child throughout this programme?

The best way to support your child’s learning is through using the Online Parent Portal. 

This will advise you on the content they have been studying in school so that you can continue conversations at home. It also suggests home learning activities to help you bring these topics up in specific ways.

Another fantastic way that you can support your child is through prayer. We have provided details in the Online Parent Portal of Unit prayers that children will be using in school. You can integrate these into your home prayer life to help reinforce the common messages and values of each Unit.

FAQ: Does the programme contain LGBT content?

Life to the Full teaches about respectful relationships, equality, dignity and inclusion for all people. As part of this, the programme includes age-appropriate discussion of sexual orientation and gender reassignment in line with statutory guidance and the Equality Act 2010. Life to the Full is inclusive of all students, families and teaching staff. Our key principle is that “We are made in God’s image, created and loved by Him, and called to be His child.” (See Ten Ten’s 10 Principles for Catholic RSHE).

The English Statutory Guidance states that schools should teach about equality, dignity and respect for all people, including the protected characteristics within the Equality Act 2010. In secondary schools, teaching about sexual orientation and gender reassignment should be age-appropriate, integrated into the wider RSHE curriculum and delivered in a balanced and respectful way. Schools should also promote respectful discussion and make clear that bullying or discriminatory behaviour is never acceptable.

The guidance also recognises that there are differing views and ongoing public discussion around some aspects of gender identity. Schools are therefore expected to teach the relevant facts and law sensitively and carefully, without presenting contested views as settled fact, while continuing to uphold the dignity and respectful treatment of every person.

The guidance calls for an integrated and age-appropriate approach. Mindful of this, and the information given by the Welsh Government in the RSE Guidance and Code, the programme develops more explicit discussion of topics related to identity, equality, relationships and protected characteristics in age-appropriate ways as students progress through secondary school.

The programme discusses LGBT issues in the following ways: 

• In Year 8, one theme looks in particular at respect for each individual, whatever their sexual orientation, and it addresses homophobic bullying.
• Another theme for Year 8 considers the Protected Characteristics highlighted in the Equality Act and focuses on the concepts of gender identity and gender dysphoria offering students an explanation of the main two perspectives on gender identity.
• Across the programme, the presenters in the film explicitly articulate that the teaching on human sexuality is relevant to all – it does not exclude people based on sexual orientation or attitudes towards gender.
• At various points throughout the programme, certain scenarios explore same-sex relationships as part of the wider teaching on relationships, sex and health.
• The programme highlights the correlation between Catholic teaching on the human person and the Human Rights Act – this includes teaching on the Protected Characteristics.
• In age-appropriate and sensitive ways, the programme also highlights instances in which Catholic teaching differs from legislation (for example, discussing why marriage in the Church is between man and woman only).
• The programme also supports students to recognise and challenge bullying, prejudice and harmful stereotypes, including online.

This teaching is in line with the statutory guidance from the Welsh Government RSE Guidance and Code.

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