An overview of the updated Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education for schools in England.
The DfE has published updated statutory guidance for schools in England – Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education. These changes are in response to the fact that, “Children are increasingly exposed to harmful content online, including misogynistic attitudes and unhealthy views about relationships.” 1
The DfE shared some statistics from recent research, such as:
- More than 1 in 5 girls between 7 and 10 years had seen inappropriate images online.
- The average age for exposure to pornography is 13.
- A third of pupils between 11 and 19 years said they heard comments within the last week (at the time of asking) that ‘made them worry about girls’ safety’.
- More than half of pupils within the last week (at the time of asking) head misogynistic comments. 1
Within the DfE’s review of RSHE, a public call for evidence had over 23,000 responses from parents, young people, schools and experts and 40,000 people contacted the DfE in a public consultation. 2
Developing a policy
The statutory RSHE guidance states that schools must have a written policy for relationships education; or if they teach sex education, a relationships and sex education (RSE) policy.
The guidance explains that schools must:
- proactively engage with and consult with parents when developing and reviewing their policy
- ensure parents understand why RSHE is important for the wellbeing of all children
- listen and respond to the views of pupils and parents
- ensure the curriculum meets pupils’ needs and that topics are taught at the right time
- publish the policy on their school website
- provide a free copy of the policy to anyone who asks for one
- inform parents of shifts away from the policy as it develops to meet emerging needs/issues
- share relevant materials with parents on request. 3
The guidance explains what needs to be included in an RSE policy such as subject content, how and when it will be taught and who is responsible for teaching it. It also recommends seven guiding principles for schools when developing their RSHE curriculum, including engagement with pupils, engagement and transparency with parents, positivity, careful sequencing, relevant and responsive, skilled delivery of participative education and whole-school approach. Schools are not required to have a policy for health education but it is recommended they do ‘set out some details of how health education will be taught’. 3
What guidance applies to primary and secondary schools?
Primary schools
In primary schools in England, it is compulsory to deliver relationships education. The key foci of primary relationships education are: understanding and building positive relationships; learning how to keep themselves and others safe; and helping children to grow into kind, caring and respectful adults. The guidance also mentions that pupils should learn about a wide range of families including: same-sex parents, single parent families, adoptive parents, foster parents/carers, young carers, kinship carer and families headed by grandparents. Keeping themselves and others safe (including online) is a large focus with teaching on recognising and reporting risks and abuse, and understanding privacy, boundaries and children’s rights. The content that must be covered by the end of primary is divided into five topics: families and people who care for me; caring friendships; respectful, kind relationships; online safety and awareness; being safe. 3
Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools but it is recommended that year 5/6 pupils learn about some aspects of sex education in relation to the science curriculum, such as, external body parts, body growth (including puberty) and reproduction in some plants and animals. It also notes that, “Schools may also cover human reproduction in the science curriculum, but where they do so, this should be in line with the factual description of conception in the science curriculum.” Primary schools should consult with parents on the content they will be teaching and advise on a parent’s right to withdrawal from sex education. 3
Health and wellbeing education is also compulsory for primary schools, supporting pupils with both psychical health and emotional wellbeing. Health education is split into nine topics: general wellbeing; wellbeing online; physical health and fitness; healthy eating; drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vaping; health protection and prevention; personal safety; basic first aid; developing bodies. The guidance notes that effective teaching of health and wellbeing education at both primary and secondary school should aim to reduce stigma associated with health issues, particularly mental health issues. 3
Secondary schools
In secondary schools in England, it is compulsory to deliver relationships and sex education (RSE). The aim of RSE education is to ‘provide young people with the information they need to develop healthy, safe and nurturing relationships of all kinds.’ The guidance notes that pupils need to understand how to ‘avoid sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies’. The key foci of the RSE curriculum are respect for oneself and others; helping pupils keep themselves and others safe; and enabling young people to make their own choices about whether and when to develop sexual relationships (that are safe, fulfilling and healthy). 3
The guidance also explains that teachers need to address topics of abuse sensitively and age appropriately helping pupils understand signs and know where they can seek support if they have experienced abuse (including online abuse) or unhealthy and unsafe relationships. The content that must be covered by the end of secondary is divided into five topics (these are addition to developing knowledge of the topics specified for primary as required): families; respectful relationships; online safety and awareness; being safe; intimate and sexual relationships, including sexual health . 3
Health and wellbeing education is also compulsory for secondary schools. This should build on developing knowledge from primary school to ‘supporting pupils to understand their changing bodies and their feelings, how to protect their own health and wellbeing, and when a physical or mental health issue requires attention.’ The guidance explains that schools should support female students to prepare for and manage menstruation, including requests for period products. This section includes a link to the Period product scheme for schools and colleges (which provides free period products to girls and women in state maintained schools and DfE funded 16-19 organisations in England). 3
The content that must be covered by the end of secondary is divided into nine topics (these are addition to developing knowledge of the topics specified for primary as required): mental wellbeing; wellbeing online; physical health and fitness; healthy eating; drugs, alcohol, tobacco and vaping; health protection and prevention, and understanding the healthcare system; personal safety; basic fist aid; developing bodies. The guidance also explains that schools may want to teach about issues not covered in the curriculum such as eating disorders and self-harm. The guidance advises that these topics must be taught in a safe and sensitive way and should included external signposting, qualified support and advice (such as accessing support from NHS and local specialist services) and use high-quality teaching materials. 3
The guidance also shares that secondary schools may want to address suicide prevention but stresses that ‘Schools should consult mental health professionals and put in place high quality, evidence-based staff training before addressing suicide directly with secondary aged pupils, to ensure that staff have the knowledge and skills to do this safely.’ It does however note that there are topics linked to this that teachers should discuss, which can be important in relation to suicide prevention, such as: loneliness, isolation, bullying, how to cope when things go wrong and how to seek help from a trusted adult. 3
Parents’ right to withdrawal
It’s important to note that, ‘Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE.’ However, parents cannot withdraw their child from relationships and health education, or topics within the science curriculum that are related to puberty and sexual reproduction. The guidance explains that before a headteacher grants a withdrawal request they should meet with parents to discuss it, to understand the parents concerns and clarify the purpose, content and benefit of the curriculum. There are specific circumstances where requests should be automatically granted or can be refused. All these details are on pages 6-7 of the guidance. 3
Schools may also find this DfE blog helpful for talking to parents about the updated RSHE guidance.
What do you think of the updated guidance?
Read the full Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education guidance and let us know your thoughts on social media!
References
- The Education Hub (2025) ‘New RSHE guidance: what parents need to know’. Available at: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2025/07/new-rshe-guidance-what-parents-need-to-know/ (Accessed: 24 July 2025)
- Department for Education (2025) ‘Statutory guidance: Foreword by the Secretary of State’. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education/foreword-by-the-secretary-of-state (Accessed: 24 July 2025)
- Department for Education (2025) ‘Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education’. Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/687a3d473f4bde279ef4528c/RSHE_statutory_guidance_-_July_2025_.pdf (Accessed: 25 July 2025)
