“They don’t need to know that.’ focus groups as a model for teacher-led research and curriculum consultation

ABSTRACT

This paper describes a focus group approach to curriculum consultation and gathering data for the purposes of research within a primary school setting. The aim of the research was to explore teachers’ and parents’ attitudes towards Relationships and Sex Education for Key Stage 1 children and to examine how these align with the way children of this age (5–7 years old) construct, experience and perceive their sexuality and gender. At the same time, the focus groups served as a consultation process for the development of a KS1 RSE curriculum within the school. This approach allowed adults to discuss, develop and change their perspectives and consider their own attitudes and behaviours. It also ensured that children’s prior knowledge, understanding and lived experiences were the starting point of the development of the new curriculum.

KEYWORDS:

• Education
• children
• gender
• sexuality
• primary
• relationships education

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tracey Wire

Tracey Wire is a senior lecturer in initial teacher education at the University of Gloucestershire, specialising in primary PSHE, history and English on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She has a particular interest in relationships education, gender and sexuality and supports both undergraduate and postgraduate students to undertake their own research projects.