LGBTQ+ identities and relationships to be fully integrated into new Leaving Cert SPHE

LGBTQ+ identities, relationships and families are to be fully integrated into teaching and learning under the draft Senior Cycle Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) Specification curriculum. 

Changes to social personal and health education (SPHE) and relationships and sexuality education (RSE) are set out in proposals from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA).

Within strand 2 - Relationships and Sexuality -  students will explore the wide range of relationships that are important for their lives with a particular focus on gaining the awareness, knowledge and skills to support them in creating and nurturing respectful, caring and healthy relationships. This strand also supports students to recognise and be empowered to respond to instances of abuse or violence in relationships.

The draft document notes that each of the learning outcomes in this strand should be taught in a way that LGBTQ+ identities, relationships and families are fully integrated and reflected in teaching and learning, as opposed to being addressed within stand-alone lessons.

Strand 1 will focus on Health and Wellbeing, while Strand 3 will focus on Into Adulthood. 

The NCCA began its review of SPHE and RSE in 2018 and published its draft curriculum for Leaving Cert students for a final consultation this week.

Senior Cycle Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) provides a dedicated space and time, the NCCA says, where students can further develop the knowledge, understanding, skills, values and dispositions needed to support their physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing, now and in their future lives.