Young people are educating themselves about relationships, sex and sexuality, but they would like to learn more about these subjects in school and have clear ideas on how they would improve relationships and sex education (RSE), according to newly published research.
The research, commissioned by and carried out in collaboration with the NSPCC, aimed to understand how and where young people learn about relationships, sex and sexuality, what they would like to learn more about, and how they seek support and advice.
The research team, led by Professor EJ Renold (Cardiff University) and including Dr Sara Bragg, Professor Jessica Ringrose and PhD student Betsy Milne at IOE, used participatory and creative methods to listen to the perspectives and experiences of young people aged 11-18 years old from across England, Wales and Scotland. The study included a young person's advisory group (YPAG) that helped shape the research methods, contributed to the process of analysis, and co-created outputs including a film and eight data-poems that convey key messages from the report using quotes from the young people.
Young people reference a range of spaces where they learn about relationships, sex and sexuality, including with friends, family, social media, popular culture and school. They are actively engaged in educating themselves to discover the information they want to know.
