65: Teaching sex and relationships education with Talk Relationships

NSPCC Learning Podcast

Safe and effective sex and relationships education (SRE) plays a vital role in preventing abuse. However, teaching SRE can be challenging. According to a 2022 NASUWT and NSPCC survey, 46% of teachers say they don’t feel confident teaching sex and relationships education.
In this podcast episode, actor and Childline ambassador Natalie Dormer is joined by two teachers to talk about what it's like to teach sex and relationships in secondary schools. They discuss the challenges teachers may face when teaching SRE, as well as practical solutions to these problems.
You can read this episode’s transcript on the NSPCC Learning website.
💬 About the speakers

Natalie Dormer is a British film, TV and stage actor and producer — her acting credits include Game of Thrones, The Tudors and The Hunger Games. Natalie is a passionate champion and advocate of children's rights. She is a longstanding supporter of the work of Childline, which is a life-changing service provided by the NSPCC. Natalie's support of the charity over many years culminated with her being appointed as the NSPCC's Ambassador for Childline in 2019 and in 2024 Natalie was made an Honorary Member of the NSPCC's Council.

Pete Basham is a science teacher and form tutor in a state-funded secondary school who also delivers the school's RSE programme.

Sarah Oakes is director of performing arts at an independent prep school in Dorset and head of RSE, delivering the curriculum to her form as well as overseeing it for the whole school.
📚 Resources mentioned in this episode
> Find out more about our Talk Relationships service
> Learn more about our Talk Relationships elearning courses
> Learn more about how to take a whole-school approach to teaching SRE
> Read 'We have to educate ourselves', a report on how young people are learning about relationships, sex and sexuality
> More information about our Report Remove tool
> Advice for parents and carers from nspcc.org.uk on how to talk to children about relationships, sex and consent
Intro/outro music is Lights by Sappheiros