RSE stands for “Relationships and Sex Education” and as part of Relationships and Health Education, is a new approach to teaching children about relationships and health.

The Relationships Education, RSE, and Health Education (England) Regulations 2019 have made Relationships Education compulsory in all primary schools. Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools.

All primary school children are required to learn about relationships and health. Relationships and Health Education comprises two distinct areas:

• Relationships
• Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing

Schools have freedom to decide how to teach the new curriculum but must teach in a way that is:

• Appropriate for children’s ages and development stage.
• Sensitive to the needs and religious backgrounds of the children in the school.

Why was there a new RSE Curriculum in 2020?

The previous curriculum had not been updated for 20 years. So much change has happened since then. Children need to learn what is relevant to them and the world they are growing up in.

The new Relationships and Health Education 2020 curriculum is designed to:

• Help all children grow up healthy, happy and safe.
• Give all children the knowledge to make informed decisions about their wellbeing, health and relationships.
• Support all children to manage the challenges and opportunities of modern Britain.
• Prepare all children for a successful adult lives.

Teaching Relationships In Primary Education

The Relationships part of the new curriculum will teach the children what they need to learn to build positive and safe relationships:

• With family.
• With friends.
• Online.

Schools should teach in a way that is appropriate to children’s ages and will look at the following questions:

• What is a relationship?
• What is friendship?
• What is family?
• Who can children look to for support?

What Will Children Be Taught By The End Of Primary School?

By the time a child finishes primary school, they will have been taught about the following in Relationships Education:

• Family and people who care for them.
• Caring friendships.
• Respectful relationships.
• Online relationships.
• Being safe.

Physical Health & Mental Wellbeing In Primary Schools

The physical health and mental wellbeing part of the new RSE curriculum will teach the children how to:

• Make good decisions about their own health and wellbeing.
• Recognise issues in themselves.
• Recognise issue in others.
• Seek support as early as possible when issues arise.

What Will Children Be Taught By The End Of Primary School?

By the time children finish primary school, they will have been taught about the following:

• Mental wellbeing.
• Internet safety and harms.
• Physical health and fitness.
• Healthy eating.
• Facts about drugs, alcohol and drugs and the risks associated with them.
• Health and prevention of illness.
• Basic first aid.
• Changes to the adolescent body.

Can Parents Wthdraw Their Children From The New RSE Curriculum?

Parents cannot withdraw their child from any part of the Relationships and Health Education aspects of the RSE curriculum. It is important for ALL children to be taught the content on such essential matters like friendships and keeping safe.

There are separate rules on withdrawing a child from Sex Education. Sex Education is separate from the Relationships and Health curriculum and parents can withdraw children from some or all of the lessons on Sex Education. The headteacher must grant a parent’s request to withdraw a child beforehand, however we would urge parents to contact the school if there are concerns, in order that there is full understanding of what will be taught and when. Please also be aware that the science curriculum in all maintained schools includes content on human development, which includes human reproduction. There is no right for a parent to withdraw their child from the science curriculum.