Lesson video

Hello, my name is Miss Wroth, and today I'm going to be your RSHE teacher.

And we are going to be looking at the lesson called "Long-Term Relationships." This fits into the lesson unit "Healthy Relationships: How Do Relationships Change?" Now, for this lesson, it is recommended that you have an adult with you before you continue watching.

Today's lesson outcome is: "I can explain the different types of long-term relationships, including cohabitation." Let's begin by taking a look at the ground rules together.

Laura says we should listen to others.

"It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should listen properly before making assumptions or deciding how to respond.

When disagreeing, challenge the statement and not the person." Jacob says, "No judgement.

We can explore beliefs and misunderstandings about a topic without the fear of being judged by others." Andeep says we should respect privacy.

"We can discuss examples, but it's important not to use names or descriptions that identify anyone, including ourselves." And Izzy says, "Choose your level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or join in a discussion.

We should never put anyone on the spot." All of these ground rules are here to keep everyone safe in today's lesson.

Here are today's keywords.

We only have one today, and that is "cohabitation." Cohabitation is when a couple live together without being married or in a civil partnership.

Here is the lesson's outline, and we are going to begin with: what are types of long-term relationships? Many people decide to enter into a long-term relationship.

Harry says, "I've been in a long-term relationship for over 10 years.

My partner, Xavier, and I enjoy each other's company and have created a family together.

We adopted our two daughters three years ago." There are different types of long-term relationships, which include cohabitation, when a couple live together without being married or in a civil partnership; a civil partnership, which is a legal union that gives two people similar rights and responsibilities to marriage; and marriage, which is a legal or formal union between two people as partners in a personal relationship.

Okay, time for a check for understanding.

Which of the following are types of long-term relationships? Is it A, marriage, B, dating, or C, cohabitation? Which of the following are types of long-term relationships? Pause this video so you can have some time to think about your answer.

Okay, well done if you said A and C, marriage and cohabitation are two types of long-term relationships.

Jack asks, "When is it appropriate to enter a long-term relationship?" Someone should only enter into a long-term relationship when they feel emotionally ready and are able to make informed choices.

When there is mutual consent and respect between the two people.

When they are free from pressure or coercion from family, peers, or others.

And when they can manage the responsibilities that come with long-term commitment.

Okay, time for a check for understanding.

Fill in the missing words in this sentence: "A healthy long-term relationship needs to have mutual ____ and ____." So what could those missing words be? Pause this video so you can have some time to think about your answer.

Okay, well done if you said "consent" and "respect." "A healthy, long-term relationship needs to have mutual consent and respect." Time for a task now.

For the first part of the task, I would like you to match the type of long-term relationship to the correct definition.

So the three long-term relationship types we have are: cohabitation, civil partnership, and marriage.

And here are the definitions that I would like you to match up correctly: a legal or formal union between two people as partners in a personal relationship; when a couple live together without being married; and a legal union that gives two people similar rights and responsibilities to marriage.

So the first part of the task is to match the type of long-term relationship to the correct definition.

Pause this video so you can have some time to do the task, and then we will go through the answers together.

Okay, let's have a look at those correct answers.

So, cohabitation is when a couple live together without being married.

A civil partnership is a legal union that gives two people similar rights and responsibilities to marriage.

And marriage is a legal or formal union between two people as partners in a personal relationship.

Well done if you got those correct.

Okay, so for this second part of the task, we're going to look at some scenarios, and I would like you to explain whether you think they are ready for a long-term relationship, and your job is to give one reason for each scenario.

So Jamie says, "My friends keep telling me I should start dating someone, but I don't feel ready yet." Sasha says, "Jose and I have been together for three years.

We've both just finished our apprenticeships, and we trust each other." And Chris says, "My family really wants me to get married soon, but I feel unsure if it's what I want." So your task is to give one reason whether you think they are ready for a long-term relationship.

Pause this video so you can have some time to do the task, and then we will go through the answers together.

Okay, well done for having a go.

So the first scenario says, "My friends keep telling me I should start dating someone, but I don't feel ready yet." And your answer might have included: Jamie's not ready to be in a relationship because they are feeling pressured by their friends.

Relationships should be based on free choice, not on peer influence or pressure.

The second scenario says, "Jose and I have been together for three years.

We've both just finished our apprenticeships and trust each other." You might have said in your answer: Sasha appears to be ready for a long-term relationship because she seems emotionally prepared, and it sounds like her and Jose have mutual respect and trust for each other.

And the third scenario says, "My family really wants me to get married soon, so I feel unsure if it's what I want." And your answer might have included: Chris is not ready for a long-term relationship commitment because they are being influenced by family pressure.

Chris also does not seem emotionally ready and able to make informed choices, as they say they are unsure of what they want for themselves.

Well done if your answers were similar to mine.

We're now going to move on to the second and the final part of our lesson.

What does cohabitation mean? So the word "cohabitation" can be broken down into the prefix "co," which means "together" or "with," and the second part of the word "habitation," which comes from the Latin word "habitare," which means "to live" or "to dwell." Cohabitation usually means: people in a romantic relationship living together without being married or in a civil partnership, but it can also be used more generally.

For example, "The flatmates who are cohabiting peacefully." Cohabitation can look different for different people.

For example, two people who share a home but have not had a legal ceremony are classed as cohabiting, like Eric and Priya.

They say, "We have a daughter together, and our grandson lives with us too.

We have been cohabiting as a couple for 40 years.

We still consider ourselves a family and believe cohabitation is the best choice for us." There are quite a few reasons why people may choose to cohabit together.

For example, their personal choice; it's what they would like to do.

It's flexible.

They're trying to test their compatibility to see whether the relationship will work when they're living together.

They might choose to cohabit with other people due to their financial situation or because of their previous experiences.

It might be due to their family circumstances or their career priorities.

Let's talk about this in a little bit more depth.

So personal choice.

Some couples simply prefer cohabitation as their relationship structure.

They may not believe in marriage as an institution or feel that their commitment doesn't need legal recognition to be meaningful.

Flexibility.

Cohabiting couples can make changes to their living arrangements more easily than married couples.

There are fewer legal processes involved if they decide to separate or move on.

Testing compatibility.

Living together allows couples to experience daily life together before making a long-term legal commitment.

They can discover how well they manage household responsibilities, finances, and personal habits together.

Finances.

Cohabitation can be more cost-effective than marriage or civil partnerships.

Couples can share living expenses like rent and bills without the cost of ceremonies, legal fees, or potential future divorce proceedings.

And previous experiences.

Some people may have been through divorce or difficult separations and prefer the informality of cohabitation for future relationships.

Family circumstances.

Couples with children from previous relationships might find cohabitation simpler for their blended family situation.

And career priorities.

Some couples prioritise their careers and prefer the flexibility that cohabitation offers, especially if their work requires frequent relocation.

Jordan and Taylor say, "We moved in together after university.

We're saving for our future and want to see if we're compatible living together before making a bigger commitment." Susie and Kwame say, "We have been together for five years and live in a house together.

We share bills and household responsibilities, but a wedding ceremony is too expensive for us right now." Rahul and Jem say, "We've been together for seven years and decided to get a flat together.

We enjoy sharing our lives, but we don't feel the need for marriage or a civil partnership to prove our commitment to each other." And Nicole and Alan say, "We both have children from previous relationships and felt that cohabiting worked best for our blended family.

We share all responsibilities but prefer to keep things simple legally." Okay, time for a check for understanding.

Which of the following are reasons why a couple might decide to cohabit? Is it A, because they feel it is the best personal choice for them? B, to test their compatibility before marriage or civil partnership? C, because you can't get married until you have lived with each other? Or D, because it is legally required before entering a civil partnership? Hmm.

Which of the following are reasons why a couple might decide to cohabit? Pause this video so you can have some time to think about your answer.

Okay, well done if you said A and B.

Some of the reasons why a couple might decide to cohabit includes: because they feel it is the best personal choice for them, or to test their compatibility before marriage or a civil partnership.

Which reasons for cohabiting are present in this example? Morgan and Saliha say, "We've been married before and didn't feel the need to do it again.

Living together suits us.

We value our independence but enjoy sharing our lives without having a more formal arrangement." So, which reasons for cohabiting are present in this example? Pause this video so you can have some time to think about your answer.

Okay, well done if you said that this example reflects personal choice and a desire for flexibility.

Cohabiting couples do not automatically have the same legal rights as married couples or those in a civil partnership.

This doesn't change even if the couple cohabit for several years.

Some people believe in something called common law marriage.

The idea is that if you live with someone for a long time, you are treated as if you are married.

This is a myth in the UK.

Living together does not give you the same legal protections.

For example, if the relationship ends or one partner dies, the other may not have the same rights to the property or finances.

That's why cohabitation is not seen as a legal relationship in the same way that marriage or civil partnership is.

Legal differences may affect: Property rights: if one partner owns the home, the other may have no automatic right to stay if the relationship ends.

Inheritance rights.

Cohabiting partners don't automatically inherit each other's property or money.

Finances.

Partners may not automatically receive pension benefits.

Parental responsibility.

Both parents need parental responsibility for their children, and this can be gained through various legal processes and next of kin.

Cohabiting partners may not be recognised as the next of kin in a medical emergencies.

Okay, time for a check for understanding.

True or false? If you live together for over two years, you have the same legal rights as a married couple.

Pause this video so you can have some time to think about your answer.

Okay, well done if you said false.

So this statement is false because couples who are cohabiting do not enjoy the same legal rights as those who are in civil partnerships or are married, regardless of the number of years they cohabit together.

Before choosing any long-term relationship type, consider: Your personal values and beliefs: what feels right to you? Your future goals: what do you want from a long-term relationship? Legal implications: do you understand the rights and responsibilities involved? Financial considerations: how might your choice affect your finances? And family planning: if you want children, how might this affect parental rights? And remember, you can always seek advice from other trusted adults, legal professionals, or relationship counsellors when making important life decisions.

Okay, time for a task now.

First, explain what cohabitation means in two to three sentences.

Then describe how cohabitation is different from marriage or civil partnership.

Pause this video so you can have some time to do the task, and then we will go through the answers together.

Okay, well done for having a go.

So, for the first part of the task, I wanted you to explain what cohabitation means, and your answer could look like this: Cohabitation means living together in a relationship without being married or being in a civil partnership.

For example, two people who share a home but have not had a legal ceremony are classed as cohabiting.

For the second part of the task, I wanted you to describe how cohabitation is different from marriage or civil partnership.

And your answer could look like this: Cohabitation is different from marriage or civil partnerships because it does not provide the same legal rights, such as inheritance or property rights, and it is not a formally recognised legal union.

Well done if your answers were similar to mine.

This brings us to the end of our lesson.

Here is a summary of everything that we've covered today: There are different types of long-term relationships, including marriage, civil partnerships, and cohabitation.

Each type of long-term relationship carries different legal rights.

People may choose to enter the different types of long-term relationships for different reasons.

A person should only enter a long-term relationship when they feel emotionally ready, when the relationship is based on mutual consent and respect, and when they are free from pressure.

Cohabitation means living together without being married or in a civil partnership and does not provide the same automatic legal rights.