Author: Jenn Haynes

My first proper sex ed lesson is burned into my memory.

Not because it was particularly informative, but because I spent most of it cringing and trying to disappear into the floor from embarrassment.

A teacher (who, let’s be honest, did not want to be there) stumbled through a PowerPoint about STIs, contraception, and something about the reproductive system. The message was clear: sex is risky, pregnancy is terrifying, and don’t even think about asking any actual questions.

By the time I left school, I could list every type of contraception but had absolutely no idea how to handle a real-life conversation about boundaries, relationships, or peer pressure. No one told us what to do if we felt uncomfortable in a situation, how to say no without feeling guilty, or what actually makes a healthy relationship. And let’s not even get started on how unprepared we were for the digital side of things - sexting, social media pressures, and the whole minefield of modern dating.

Turns out, I wasn’t the only one who felt like this.

So many young people leave school knowing the mechanics of sex but totally unequipped for the emotional, digital, and social challenges that come with it.

In fact, a 2022 report by the Sex Education Forum found that 24% of young people in the UK felt their sex education was missing key elements, particularly around relationships and navigating real-life situations. And that’s why RSE needs a serious update.

What school didn’t teach us about relationships

The emotional side of relationships

Sure, we learned about contraception, but no one talked about how to actually communicate in a relationship. We needed real conversations about:

What a healthy relationship looks like (because let’s be real, not all ‘love stories’ are good ones).
How to handle rejection and breakups without spiralling (instead of just being told ‘you’ll get over it’).
Recognising emotional abuse and manipulation (because gaslighting isn’t just a buzzword - it’s something a lot of young people experience without realising it).

In fact, according to research by SafeLives, only 52% of young people surveyed believed their RSE classes gave them a good understanding of toxic and healthy relationships.

That’s a huge gap when it comes to preparing students for what they’ll face in real-life relationships. So many of us entered our first relationships totally blind to red flags because no one had ever told us what to look out for.

The digital side of dating & relationships

Back when RSE lessons were designed, online relationships weren’t really a thing. Fast forward to now, and everything is digital.

Yet somehow, we still don’t talk enough about:

What’s okay and not okay online (from unsolicited pics to pressure over messages).
Consent in a digital world (because ‘just block them’ isn’t always an easy answer).
How social media warps our expectations of love and attraction (hello, filtered perfection and ‘couple goals’ pressure).

55% of UK teens have reported flirting with potential partners on social media. But how many of them feel equipped to navigate that space in a healthy, respectful way?

Young people are navigating this digital minefield on their own, often making mistakes that could be avoided if we just had better conversations about it in school.

Social pressures & decision-making

It’s not just about romantic relationships. Friendships, group dynamics, and pressure to fit in can shape so many of our choices. Yet RSE barely touches on:

How to stand up to peer pressure without losing friends.
What manipulation looks like in different relationships.
How to remove yourself from uncomfortable situations without making it worse.

Fear of rejection or isolation can be paralysing for young people, potentially causing them to lose their sense of self-worth and identity. This pressure can affect how they make decisions, especially when it comes to relationships and peer dynamics. Most of us just learned through trial and error - sometimes painful, often messy - when a bit of guidance could have saved us a lot of stress.

Time to bring RSE into the 21st century

It’s clear that traditional RSE isn’t covering everything young people need - that’s where Peerscroller comes in.

Our TikTok-style videos tackle real issues young people actually care about, in a way that speaks their language. Plus, our curated resource packs bring everything together, so they have the right content at the right time.

We get it - teaching RSE isn’t as simple as following a textbook. Teachers are expected to cover everything from consent to online relationships while balancing school policies, parental concerns, and a lack of dedicated training.

It’s no surprise that less than half of secondary school teachers actually feel confident delivering RSE lessons. And with only 6% receiving training on it during their teacher education, many are left to figure it out as they go.

It’s not just about confidence either. Some teachers worry about saying the wrong thing, especially when tackling sensitive topics like LGBTQ+ inclusion, sexting, or peer pressure. Others struggle with a lack of consistent resources - meaning what students learn can vary massively from school to school.

And then there’s the challenge of making RSE truly inclusive. Teachers working with SEND students often don’t get the specialist training they need to adapt lessons properly. The RSHE guidance says RSE must be accessible for all, but in reality, the support to make that happen isn’t always there.

So yes, we see the challenges. We hear the frustrations. And that’s exactly why Peerscroller exists - to take some of that pressure off teachers and provide ready-to-use, engaging content that actually speaks to young people.

We’re not here to tell you what you’re doing wrong. Our resources are designed to support what you’re already doing in the classroom. We’re here to help make these conversations easier, more relatable, and - most importantly - more meaningful for students.

Explore Peerscroller’s RSE resources today and start making those conversations count.