Revised sex education guidance in the UK addresses parental worries and upholds religious liberties
The British Department for Education has published new statutory guidance on Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education, effective from September 2026. This comprehensive curriculum framework, designed for schools in England, covers primary and secondary education [2][3].
- Respectful and Inclusive Relationships Education
The guidance promotes a respectful approach to relationships, starting with primary-level friendships and family relationships. It advocates for inclusive teaching, sensitive to pupils' diverse backgrounds, including beliefs and identities. Schools are encouraged to combine high-quality RSHE with strong pastoral care to ensure all young people feel safe, supported, and "seen," including those who are LGBTQ+ [1][2].
- Addressing LGBT Issues
The guidance acknowledges the importance of addressing issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity to support LGBTQ+ pupils. It emphasizes the need to combat homophobic and transphobic bullying while celebrating diversity and inclusion [1][2][3]. LGBT content is included as a routine part of the curriculum, designed to be age-appropriate and respectful of pupils' development stages.
- Online Safety
Online safety forms a critical part of both primary and secondary health education. The curriculum teaches children how to stay safe online, understanding risks they may encounter and how to protect themselves and others in digital environments [3][4].
- Curriculum Structure
Primary schools focus on foundational aspects of relationships, respect, and safety, alongside age-appropriate early sex education. Secondary schools receive a broader and more detailed curriculum, including biological aspects of sex education, relationships, consent, and health and wellbeing topics [2][4]. Parents have a statutory right to request withdrawal of their child from sex education lessons (but not from relationships and health education), and schools must involve parents in developing their RSE policies [2][4].
- Guiding Principles
RSHE should prepare young people for real-world complexities, promote happiness, safety, and respectful behavior. Teaching must be inclusive, sensitive, developmentally appropriate, and aligned with the needs of the pupils and their communities [3].
- Policy and Implementation
Schools must develop clear policies aligned with the statutory guidance and communicate openly with parents and guardians about curriculum content and resources used [2][4]. There is recognition that teachers often lack specialized training in RSHE, so schools are encouraged to provide appropriate training and support to teaching staff.
The guidance is sensitive to the religious background of pupils, particularly in schools with a Christian ethos. It allows schools with such a background to share a biblical perspective on topics of family, relationships, and sex [2]. Alicia Edmund of the UK Evangelical Alliance considers the publication of the guidance to be a small victory for Christian families [5].
In secondary school, pupils will learn about consent, kindness, and respect, while also understanding how to challenge harmful attitudes encountered online. Primary school children will learn about positive relationships between friends and family, understanding respect and kindness, and recognizing abusive behavior [5]. Parents are allowed to view materials used in sex education, and permission to raise concerns about RSE content is crucial when teaching children about online safety [5].
The full guidance can be found here.
[1] Department for Education. (2025). Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education statutory guidance. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-rse-and-health-education
[2] Department for Education. (2021). Guidance for schools: implementing relationships education, RSE and health education. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-schools-implementing-relationships-education-rse-and-health-education
[3] Department for Education. (2020). Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education: statutory guidance for schools. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-rse-and-health-education-statutory-guidance-for-schools
[4] Department for Education. (2019). Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education: statutory guidance for schools. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-rse-and-health-education-statutory-guidance-for-schools
[5] Evangelical Focus - Europe. (2025). Updated RSE guidance in England emphasizes inclusivity and online safety. Retrieved from https://evangelicalfocus.com/news/updated-rse-guidance-in-england-emphasizes-inclusivity-and-online-safety/
Here are two sentences that contain the words 'education-and-self-development', 'politics', and 'general-news':
- General news outlets reported on the publication of the revised Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education curriculum, discussing its implications on the education-and-self-development sector and wider political landscape.
- While politics surrounding RSE have been a contentious topic in various nations, the new guidelines in England mark a significant step forward in mainstreaming discussions on relevant education-and-self-development issues, such as LGBTQ+ rights and online safety, into the curriculum.
