Resources to help secondary schools deliver exceptional RSE.

Young people are growing up in an online world that is shaping attitudes to sex, relationships and consent from an early age. The Children’s Commissioner for England (2025) reports that many children are exposed to pornography at a young age, often accidentally, and that much of the content they see is violent, extreme or degrading — influencing expectations of sex and relationships.

These online harms are increasingly visible in school life. Ofsted has highlighted sexual harassment and peer‑on‑peer harmful behaviour as key safeguarding concerns, requiring schools to take proactive, whole‑school action rather than relying solely on disclosures. Many young people report that sexual comments, jokes and unwanted sexualised behaviour have become normalised, with low confidence in reporting or being supported.

Dignify’s own 2023–24 research reflects this national picture:

• One in three students witness sexual comments or jokes in school at least weekly
• 32% have seen pornography, with the average age of first exposure being 12
• 29% of repeat viewers say they have acted out something they have seen
• Fewer than four in ten would feel confident telling their school if they experienced sexual harassment

At the same time, expectations on schools are rising. Safeguarding is now a stand‑alone focus in Ofsted inspections, and the Department for Education’s revised Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance (2025) places stronger emphasis on issues such as pornography, consent, misogyny, nude‑sharing, deepfakes and online harm. Schools are expected to show clear evidence of impact and a preventative, whole‑school approach.

Students themselves are asking for more protection, clearer education and safer cultures. Dignify exists to support schools to meet this need — providing insight, training and evidence‑based education that helps students thrive in healthy, respectful relationships and strengthens safeguarding practice.