- RSE consists of TWO components – RELATIONSHIP &HEALTH EDUCATION and SEX EDUCATION
- No requirement to teach sex education in Primary school
- IF the PRIMARY school chooses to teach SEX EDUCATION parents CAN WITHDRAW if they wish but cannot withdraw from Relationship & Health Education.
- Sex education compulsory at Secondary – parents have the right to withdraw (up to 3 terms before your child turns 16) but not from relationship or health education. Head teacher must approve the withdrawal.
- No parental rights to withdraw from Relationship and Health Education in secondary- compulsory to be taught at Primary and Secondary.
- The DfE’s Guidance clearly states that the teaching of RSE, must be done in an age appropriate way and must have regard for the religious background of the pupils and their families.
- Lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) – No requirement to teach in any particular year group. Nick Gibb, Minister for School Standards explained during the Parliamentary Question Period on 25 June 2019, that primary schools are not required to teach LGBT elements
- There is no obligation for any school to “teach” the Equality Act 2010.
- No requirement to choose any particular materials or outside organizations. School can decide.
- The statutory content must be taught by the end of primary/secondary school – it does not all have to be taught early.
- Schools are free to determine when and how they teach–schools can select what they teach from the DFE Guidance and justify their selection with regards to age and faith.
- Teaching gender and biological sex – Teachers /School should not reinforce harmful stereotypes, for instance by suggesting that children might be a different gender based on their personality and interests or the clothes they prefer to wear. Resources used in teaching about this topic must always be age-appropriate and evidence based. School should not use materials or work with outside organizations that produce such materials that promote that a child may be in the wrong body
Updated Guidance from the Department for Education
Sep 2020
Transgender [gender identity ]
“Materials which suggest that non-conformity to gender stereotypes should be seen as synonymous with having a different gender identity should not be used and you should not work with external agencies or organizations that produce such material.”
Plan your relationships, sex and health curriculum
Age inappropriate Material
“Great caution should be exercised before setting any assignment, in class or at home, that involves researching a subject where there is a high risk that a child could accidentally be exposed to age inappropriate material, such as pornography. Particularly at primary level, you should be careful not to expose children to over-sexualised content.“
Political impartiality
“At all times when developing curriculum and teaching relationships, sex and health education, maintained schools must comply with their duties under the 1996 Education Act regarding political impartiality.
The local authority, governing body and head teacher must… secure that where political issues are brought to the attention of pupils, they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views“.