1. RSE and Health Education: 2019 and beyond
PSHE Hub
18th October 2018
Emphasis on the Secondary school setting

2. What are the current statutory requirements?
• Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is an important part of PSHE education (DfE, 2014). When providing SRE must have regard to the Secretary of State’s guidance; this is a statutory duty. Academies do not have to provide SRE but must also have regard to Secretary of State’s guidance when they do (DfE, 2013). • All schools must publish details of their PSHE curriculum online. This includes RSE. (DfE, 2014). • It is compulsory for all maintained schools to teach the parts of sex education that fall under National Curriculum Science which must be taught to all pupils of primary and secondary age e.g. the biological aspects of puberty and reproduction (Education Act 1996, National Curriculum 2014).

3. Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (England) Regulations 2019
Firstly, ALL schools now need to adhere.
There are amendments and additions.

4. Relationships (and sex) education and health education – Consultation period
DfE is seeking views on draft regulations, statutory guidance and a regulatory impact assessment for relationships and sex education and health education.
This consultation closes at 11:45pm on 7 November 2018
They can be found on the DFE website
UPDATE: THIS HAS NOW GONE THROUGH PARLIAMENT!

5. Will all of PSHE be compulsory?
The Department for Education’s decision is to make Health Education compulsory, not all of PSHE. This includes:
Relationships and Sex
Mental Health
E-Safety
Keeping physically safe

6. What can we expect, in a nutshell:
The Education Act 2002 will amended as follows
“(c) provision for relationships education for all registered pupils at the school who are provided with primary education,
(d) provision for relationships and sex education for all registered pupils at the school who are provided with secondary education,
(e) provision for health education for all registered pupils at the school.”.

7. The pupils must learn about:
the nature of marriage and its importance for family life and the bringing up of children,
safety in forming and maintaining relationships,
the characteristics of healthy relationships
how relationships may affect physical and mental health and well- being
the education is appropriate having regard to the age and the religious background of the pupils.
The governing body of a maintained school must have regard to guidance under this section.
The Secretary of State must review guidance under this section from time to time.

8. Policy: 1) The governing body of a maintained school must— (a) make, and keep up to date, a separate written statement of their policy with regard to the provision of education 2) Publish a copy of the statement on a website and provide a copy free of charge to anyone who asks for one. 3) The governing body must consult parents of registered pupils at the school before making or revising the policy

9. It is important that we review our policy and audit our RSE, mental health, safeguarding in curriculum and e-safety provisions during this academic year

10. Where to start? Some suggestions:
Self assessment tool for auditing
Update RSE policy to incorporate new requirements and Health Education
Ratified by Governing body and upload to school website
Review SOL and curriculum mapping – develop as required
Communicate with parents and carers
CPD for staff if appropriate

11. Useful information and support:
RSE Hub
The RSE Hub exists to provide relevant credible and useful support for educators in all aspects of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in order to strengthen the quality and consistency of RSE across the UK.
We offer quality assurance, expert advice and guidance, training and resources on all aspects of Relationships & Sex Education.
Visit the RSE Hub website at for further information or or tweet

12. Other useful organisations:
Brook – the UK's leading sexual health charity for young people under
PSHE Association - Membership organisation for PSHE Teachers.
Sex Education Forum – a membership organisation that works together with its members for quality sex and relationships education.
Family Planning Association – a UK registered charity working to enable people to make informed choices about sex and to enjoy sexual health.