The government has published the final statutory guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education. The document contains information on what schools should do and sets out the legal duties which schools must comply with when teaching RSE and health education. This guidance replaces the sex and relationship education guidance (2000).

The new curriculum will be mandatory from September 2020, and schools are encouraged to adopt the new curriculum early from September 2019. Schools that adopt the new curriculum early will still need to meet the current statutory requirements.

For ease of access, separate sections of the full statutory guidance are available outlining the statutory guidance for relationships education (Primary), for relationships and sex education (Secondary) and for physical health and mental wellbeing (Primary and Secondary). The section from the full guidance on delivering and teaching strategies is also available separately here.

A number of other useful documents can be accessed here, including further information about the guidance and an introduction to the requirements. 

The DfE has also published guides for parents of primary and secondary age pupils, to help parents understand more about these subjects. Schools can use these guides to communicate with parents about teaching relationships and health education.

You can read NAHT's policy update on relationships education here and our advice for members here. 

The DfE has also published guides for parents of primary and secondary age pupils, to help parents understand more about these subjects. Schools can use these guides to communicate with parents about teaching relationships and health education.

First published 26 June 2019