Creating Value In Schools
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The DfE has updated its statutory guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education. This guidance applies to all schools. While the RSE curriculum isn’t changing radically, content has been added which addresses emerging and current issues – so there are more topics to cover. Parents have the right to view all curriculum materials on request, but they do not have the right to veto their use. There are no specific age limits on content, but the curriculum must be ‘age and stage appropriate’.
Schools must be ready to teach the updated curriculum from September 2026, so it makes sense to start considering training and other preparation needs now.
There is a new emphasis on tackling misogyny and incel culture. ‘Children and young people will be better protected from the scourge of misogynism, deepfake porn and unhealthy attitudes to consent, power and control’, says Bridget Phillipson in the release of the new guidance.
Additional content has been included in response to emerging issues and concerns.
New topics include:
In terms of teaching approaches, there’s an emphasis on creating a safe and balanced learning environment, and avoiding fear approaches.
There is no specific age limit on when topics can be taught, but the curriculum must be ‘age and stage appropriate’ (see section 15 on ‘Guiding principles’). This means, for example, that primary schools can teach about sexual imagery online, where this is an issue in their school.
The guidance states that schools 'should take steps to pro-actively engage parents and make sure they are aware of what is being taught in RSHE’ (paragraph 55).
Schools must consult parents when developing and reviewing their RSE policies.
Also, they should ‘show parents a representative sample of the resources that they plan to use’ – although parents ‘are not able to veto curriculum content’ (paragraph 56).
Parents can request to see all materials used to teach RSHE, so schools need to ensure that materials are viewable. Curriculum providers cannot put in contractual limits on what may be viewed.
There could be difficulties here, where schools are using paid for or paywalled materials; providers and schools will need to ensure there is a way to give parents viewing access.
The guidance strongly encourages primary schools ‘to teach about healthy loving relationships, and to include same-sex parents along with other family arrangements when discussing families’ (paragraph 68).
Secondary schools should teach about sexual health ‘in a way that is relevant for all pupils, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or gender questioning’ (paragraph 68).
Pupils should be taught ‘the facts and the law about biological sex and gender reassignment’, as well as about the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, and how this gives protection from discrimination (paragraph 69).
They should be careful not to endorse or teach any particular view around biological sex and gender reassignment (paragraph 70).
Schools can start teaching the new guidance when they are ready. They must make sure that the updated curriculum is in action for September 2026.
Reflections and actions to consider for your setting:
The PSHE association has produced this six-minute video about the updated guidance. Share with staff as a useful overview of changes and what to expect.
Responses to the updated guidance have so far been broadly positive about content and approach. Key challenges for schools are likely to be:
