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On this website we hope to give you a flavour of our newly published DVDs on Faith Sensitive Relationships education.

The DVDs have been designed and produced by Newham Student SACRE members, with the help of local faith representatives, and the support of the RE and SRE advisors.

The students wanted to produce materials that could be used in their sex and relationships education lessons (SRE), which would bring faith views into the curriculum.

They wanted a DVD that would also help those who deliver SRE in schools (whether that be teachers or health professionals), or deal with young people and their sexual health to understand their religious and cultural backgrounds.

On this website you will see we have placed a number of clips and information to help you know and see more of what has been produced.

Information booklet that comes with the DVDs. This explains the background to the project, as well as explaining what questions students and faith leaders answer on the DVD.

Click here to view an introduction by the Project Managers

Click here to view an example of a question being answered by students

Click here to view an example of a question being answered by faith leaders

Report on the BBC website introducing the project

Report on the BBC website on the launch of the DVD

Student Sacre meeting dates 2007/08

Student Sacre - Why join?

RE Newsletter - Spring 2008

DVD 1 is an excellent stimulus to use during the lesson to raise discussion around the questions posed. This clearly can be to challenge points made by the pupils, discuss further comments made and then put forward their viewpoints.

DVD 2 for me is more of a teaching / planning aide for teachers. As they can view the DVD before planning the sessions and ensure that they are delivering sessions that do not contradict a religious viewpoint. It could also be a useful resource to share with doubting parents stating that as a school we would be reiterating the messages given by the various religious and secular world viewpoints.'

"This quality DVD programme is amazingly interesting. It uses young people's own questions and insights to drive learning about the authentic and diverse attitudes to sex and relationships found in the world faiths. If only all SACREs could do projects as engaged and thoughtful as this. Newham SACRE are to be congratulated, as are all the young people involved."

'I thoroughly enjoyed hearing young people from Newham respond to what are some very challenging questions . Their openness and honesty in responding to the questions was refreshing. Their responses to the questions gives us a sharp insight into their religious, cultural and emotional worlds. The interviews with faith leaders set against the interviews with the students serve to give a balance and provide a range of perspectives on essential questions based around sex and relationships. The DVD offers teachers of PHSE/RE and citizenship an opportunity to develop work around the interviews which best meets the needs of their curriculum.'

'Providing well planned sex and relationships that relates to the faiths and beliefs of all pupils is quite a challenge; even more so when resources to support this are limited or adult led. This project arose from the concerns of students in Newham in London who wanted to be able to incorporate their faith perspectives into their sex education programme. The project, part funded by a NASACRE award, enabled dialogue between a number of young people and adults from a range of beliefs and faiths, where they considered and responded to a series of questions relevant to young people today.

Data from the 2001 census found Newham to have the highest young population and one of the lowest indigenous white populations in the country. At that time the borough had the second highest percentage of Muslims in Britain (24.3%). It contains a vibrant mix of ethnic groups, the second highest number of ethnic group in London are to be found here.

The outcomes of the project are two well produced DVDs and a small booklet that can be used flexibly by schools as part of their sex and relationships education programmes. The young people and adults who appear on the DVDs have a fresh and natural quality that makes their comments very powerful. They are engagingly honest, at times embarrassed and remarkably mature in their views. Used well this resource could spark off more dialogue with young people in classrooms around the country and could be particularly useful for schools wanting to engage adults in conversations around the appropriacy of sex education programmes for their young people.'

'We live in an exciting and culturally diverse society where religions from all over the world exist side by side. On a national basis this fact has largely been overlooked in the teaching of sex and relationships education. However, with this pioneering DVD project, the Newham Student SACRE have produced a resource that encourages 'faith sensitive' relationships education, accessible and accommodating to students from all religious backgrounds.

Used as a classroom resource DVD One will undoubtedly provide an excellent basis for classroom discussion. In addition, the student participants and their varying opinions which feature in the DVD demonstrate to any viewer the need for accepting and respecting diversity in our society- an invaluable lesson for all.

The collaboration of thirteen faith representatives for the production of DVD Two ensures a fully inclusive and unprecedented expression of beliefs and opinions in one resource. Again, this will inevitably prove to be invaluable for students, teachers and parents in the teaching of relationships education.

This DVD is the first of its kind, it challenges our preconceptions of 'Sex Education'; throwing out all the old stereotypes. As a result of the wealth of knowledge and information this DVD package provides 'Faith Sensitive Relationships Education' can now be taught in all schools in an inclusive, understanding and respectful environment.'

The resource identifies clearly focused questions, includes spontaneous and honest student responses – at times, shockingly so! – and reflective and diverse responses from the communities.

No longer will teachers have to trawl through RE textbooks, only to find religious perspectives on sex and relationship issues - and to questions which are not those which students are interested in or even asking!

A flexible resource which will positively challenge the thinking of students and teachers alike.

Pamela Draycott - Curriculum Adviser for RE and Citizenship, Kent.

This useful resource comprises two DVDs and a support booklet represents some young people's views on sex and relationships education.

The young people in question come from a range of religious backgrounds. The idea for the resource came from members of the Newham Student SACRE. The first disc has Year 10 students presenting a range of both religious and secular responses to a number of key questions relating to sex and relationships education (e.g. What are the things you need to make a relationship strong?, Do you believe in love?). The second disc provides some extended responses to the same questions from different faith and secular standpoints. The booklet provides some support for using the material on the discs appropriately to address these important areas of personal development. This is a flexible and easily accessible resource that provides a useful bank of responses from a range of different religious and secular perspectives that will be of real value in both RE and PSHEE programmes.

Highly recommended.