Relationships education in schools

Schools play a vital role in preparing children and young people for healthy, dependable relationships throughout their lives. Evidence shows that by prioritising relationships in every area of school life, schools can improve many things - including mental health, staff retention, parent engagement, behaviour and academic performance.

Why does it matter?

All young people need the support to:

• aspire to healthy, dependable relationships throughout their lives
• have the skills and understanding for healthy dependable relationships.

Fastn research shows that 81% of parents (of primary and secondary age children) believe relationships education should help children develop ambitions for relationships throughout life.

Young people also recognise that schools are key in supporting them to develop their relationship expectations and skills. This is vital when we consider the huge inequalities across young people’s experiences of relationships at home.

Schools are society’s key opportunity to address these inequalities and transform young people's life outcomes.

How do we work?

Fastn brings together educationalists, relationship organisations, relationship education partners, membership organisations, parent groups and decision makers to:

• shape the understanding and delivery of meaningful relationships education
• share examples of inspiring practice from schools and school leaders
• put meaningful, research-based relationships education at the forefront of the public agenda.

All of our work in relationships education is guided by the Principles of Excellence in Relationships Education. Developed with partner organisations, the Principles are based on relationship research and practice.

We support our frontline partners in making the most of their positive relationships with schools and their pupils, putting healthy dependable relationships at the heart of all they do. We encourage them to start conversations in their networks and to challenge others to take action on relationships.

What is the impact of our work?

We lead a broad network of organisations with relationships expertise. Together we equip schools to ensure everyone in the school community witnesses and experiences positive relationships, as well as learning about them.

Through our network, this expertise is shared in a sustainable way - tapping into, extending and deepening existing practice. This approach achieves good reach and delivers excellent value for money. As a result, more schools are able to help all their pupils to witness and experience healthy, dependable relationships.

In the past year, Fastn has enabled:

• 2,380 classes to benefit from our Commitment and families learning resource
• 462 schools to benefit from the Principles for meaningful relationships learning
• 19 partner organisations in our Principles network to integrate and prioritise relationships in their work with schools.

What can you do?

Healthy and dependable relationships are the glue at the heart of our lives. If you agree and want to take action, we’d love to hear from you. You can:

• Champion relationships education in your area. Share your inspiring stories of relationship learning practice to help stimulate wider prioritisation and action on relationships throughout life
• Make use of our resources to help integrate healthy, dependable relationships into your work with schools and young people in your school community. All these resources are free of charge.
• If you are an organisation, consider joining our Principles network to help put meaningful relationships learning at the heart of all schools across the UK
• Tell us if you'd be interested in collaborating with us. We are always interested in hearing from anyone who can make meaningful relationships education happen in schools and youth settings
• Review your school against The Principles of Excellence in Relationships Education - and get in touch with us for further advice on putting these Principles into practice
• Donate to help us extend meaningful relationships education to more schools and more children and young people.

How can we help you?

Be inspired by other educators

Take a look at the case studies listed below and see what relationships practice you could develop in your setting:

• Bankside Primary School, Leeds
• Explore educational charity
• Highgate School, London
• Mounts Bay Academy, Cornwall
• Northcott School, Hull
• Relate Coventry and Warwickshire
• Shropshire County Council
• St John's Catholic Primary School, Bridgnorth
• Wood Farm Primary School, Oxford
• XP School, Doncaster

Take a look at our range of practical resources

We have collaborated with partners to create a range of resources that will support your school’s relationship learning. Take a look and see how you could use them.