‘More must be done to improving education around menstrual cycles
if we are going to tackle period dignity in schools,’ Deputy
Minister for Social Partnership has vowed.
The Welsh Government’s Period Proud Wales plan sets out the
ambition to embed period dignity in schools and improve
appropriate education resources around menstrual cycles.
Menstrual well-being and learning about the menstrual
cycle is mandatory within the new Curriculum for Wales. The
Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Code sets out the
learning which should be taught over time as children
grow.
It is hoped improving the availability of educational resources
and learning around menstrual cycles will remove the stigma of
talking about periods, improve the understanding of them and
dispel the taboos and myths around them.
This includes the likes of the Hwb - Busting the
Myths educational resource, which is primarily aimed
at secondary school pupils.
Two core aims of the Welsh Government’s Period Proud Wales plan
are to tackle period poverty, by improving access to period
products, and ensuring period dignity, by removing any sense of
stigma or shame associated with periods.
In 2022 the Welsh Government increased funding to ensure that
period products can be accessed free of charge by learners
in schools, Further Education Institutions and to those in
need in communities to £3.9 million.
A research report into the Period Dignity Grant found that
progress is being made in improving the availability of period
products, including through schools, for those who struggle to
access them.
The report also recommends there should be more information
provided to people, alongside education, about periods in a bid
to overcome the stigma and taboos around talking about them.
Work has also begun to co-produce education resources on
menstrual wellbeing as part of the mandatory learning within the
RSE Code. We are working with others to ensure practitioners are
able to draw on professional support and resources that are
publicly available and shared with other schools and settings
across Wales.
Deputy Minister for Social Partnership visited Ysgol
Gyfun Cwm Rhymni’s Gellihaf campus in Caerphilly to see their
'Period Dignity Drive', which aims to inform pupils about the
reality of periods, dispel myths and empower young
girls to talk about their bodies in a confident way.
The school is also taking shared ownership of period facilities
being developed across two sites.
Deputy Minister for Social Partnership said: “Tackling
period dignity is a key part of our Period Proud Wales plan. We
must do more to improve education around menstrual cycles if we
are going to tackle period dignity in schools.
“It has been a privilege to see first-hand the ‘Period Dignity
Drive’ being carried out at Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni and their
efforts to empower young pupils to talk about their bodies in a
confident way.
“If we can remove the stigma of talking about periods and dispel
the myths and taboos that surround them, we can improve the
menstrual wellbeing and awareness of pupils in schools across
Wales. This will in turn benefit their health as they become
adults.”
Education Minister said: “We are
striving to improve education resources around periods and
ensuring period dignity is considered in guidance for schools,
local authorities and colleges.
“Menstrual well-being is included in our curriculum through the
Relationships and Sexuality Education Code, which is currently
being rolled out in our schools. We’re also working with the
Higher Education sector to promote period dignity as part of
institutions’ well-being policies and practices.”
Tracey Neale, Assistant Head of Welsh-medium secondary
Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, said: “We are proud to showcase
how we are embedding period dignity in our curriculum and how we
are supporting young girls and families across the borough.
“It is imperative pupils are taught about the reality of periods
and we remove the stigma of talking about them, so they aren’t
afraid to reach out for help and are better informed about them.”
