Relationships and teaching them in school: the Shackleton report

Recent legislation requires schools to teach pupils the characteristics of healthy relationships. This research aimed to provide an evidence base to inform the design and production of a fitting relationship programme. … The project explored what the critical questions are that should be asked prior to entering a relationship intended to be permanent to increase its chances of thriving. It also aimed to identify common reasons for relationship breakdown. From the research findings we built checklists of relationship attributes and skills and undertook some preliminary work with young people to assess willingness to engage with relationship educational programmes to help them to form healthy, enduring relationships.