Scoil Phobail Bhéara
Castletownbere
Co. Cork
25/02/2026
Re: SPHE and RSE Programme
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I am writing to inform you about the Social, Personal and Health Education Programme which is a core part of our Wellbeing Programme. The S.P.H.E programme provides a unique and exciting opportunity for students to develop skills and competence, to learn about themselves and others and to make informed decisions about their health, personal lives, and social development.
Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is one module within the S.P.H.E curriculum. It is a developmental process through which pupils participate in order to cultivate a healthy attitude towards themselves and others, particularly in the area of sexuality and relationships. Two timetabled periods per week are allocated to S.P.H.E in 1st and 2nd year and one class period in 3rd year and out of the S.P.H.E Programme in the year, eight to ten timetabled periods will be assigned to Relationships and Sexuality Education. This module will be taught to all those participating in the Junior Cycle Programme in the forthcoming weeks. A complete breakdown of the S.P.H.E curriculum, which includes comprehensive details on the RSE module, is available for your information on https://www.curriculumonline.ie/junior-cycle/short-courses/sphe/
As you are the primary educators of your children, we recognize the right of any/parent/guardian who so wishes to request that his/her son/daughter should not participate in the programme. The school will respect this choice. Any parent/guardian who wishes to withdraw his/her son/daughter must put their request in writing to the principal before March 2nd.
Yours Sincerely,
Seán O Leary
S.P.H.E Coordinator