Secondary children in classroom

Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)

Changes to Relationships and sex education (RSE) are vital to support the social and emotional development of children and young people. 

Introduction

Since September 2020, Relationships Education, Health Education, and Relationships and Sex Education became compulsory in England. Relationships, Sex and Health Education is sometimes shortened to RSHE.

From September 2021, schools are expected to teach an RSHE curriculum that meets the Department’s statutory guidance.

The NEU wants to support all schools to build an effective, inclusive and needs-led RSHE. We encourage schools to keep engaging with parents and pupils as much as possible to help inform curriculum planning and to identify gaps in learning that may have been exacerbated by the pandemic, so that topics can be picked up later. 

RSHE pledge

NEU have signed up to Brook and the Sex Education Forum's pledge for high-quality, inclusive education. You can join the pledge below:

Pledge your Support

Brook RHSE pledge

2024 DFE review of the RSHE guidance

The Department for Education has released draft guidance on relationships, sex and health education, that is currently out for consultation. The Union has responded to this consultation.

It is important to emphasise that this guidance is draft out for consultation – there is no need to change any existing policies in reaction to the draft guidance. It is important to remember that when relationships and sex education (RSE) became mandatory five years ago it was widely supported in Parliament as a safeguarding tool. 

As outlined in the Sex Education Forum’s Young people’s RSE 2024 poll, young people are starting to benefit from this protective curriculum, with 50% saying their RSE is ‘good’ or ‘very good’ in our poll of 16 and 17 years olds earlier this year.

The Union has some concerns about the guidance.

  • We are concerned that age restrictions will make it harder for young people to receive the information they need to be safe in a timely fashion
  • We believe that this guidance makes the obligations on teachers less clear, and will make it harder for them to fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities
  • We believe this guidance will make it harder for schools to successfully meet their requirements under the Equality Act 2010, which includes a responsibility to ensure LGBT+ equality.

On this basis, we have completed our response to the consultation. We are now awaiting the government's response.

  • The union has co-signed this joint position statement written by the PSHE Strategic Partners Group and signed by over 100 organisations. 
  • The union has also sponsored this RSHE briefing by the End Violence Against Women Coalition.

Relationships Education and RSE guidance 2020

This guide outlines the key changes to Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) for schools in England.

It highlights what the key statutory changes are, what this means for schools and what the NEU believes to be key principles to delivering holistic, inclusive, empowering and needs-led RSE. It also contains frequently asked questions on Relationships Education and/or RSE and signposts to further resources and tools to support teachers and education professionals.

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