Revised sex education guidance in the UK acknowledges parental worries and preserves religious liberties
Updated Guidance for Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education in England
The British Department for Education has published the updated statutory guidance for Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education in England, effective from September 2026. This comprehensive framework covers key aspects such as relationships, consent, LGBT relationships, gender reassignment, online safety, and religious freedom.
Core Content and Requirements
The guidance aims to equip children and young people with the knowledge and skills to make informed, ethical decisions about their wellbeing, health, and relationships. It supports social, moral, mental, and physical development, including promoting resilience, self-worth, honesty, and kindness.
Curriculum Scope
For primary education, the focus is on Relationships Education, teaching about positive relationships, friendships, family, and respect for others. The curriculum also includes emotional awareness, physical health (nutrition, exercise, sleep), and the foundations of online safety.
In secondary education, the curriculum includes mandatory Relationships and Sex Education, building on primary content with sexual health topics, consent, intimate relationships, and broader health education topics.
Specific Topics Covered
The guidance emphasizes the importance of consent education, teaching pupils to understand different types of relationships, recognize healthy ones, and develop skills to manage them respectfully. Consent education is embedded, emphasizing the importance of clear, willing, and enthusiastic agreement in relationships, tailored to developmental stages.
The curriculum also includes teaching about LGBT relationships to foster inclusion and reduce bullying. Data highlights that 43% of LGBT+ students have experienced bullying, underscoring the need for supportive education.
Schools are required to handle topics related to gender identity sensitively, ensuring pupils understand respect for gender diversity. Teaching should foster acceptance without exposing children to inappropriate content.
There is an emphasis on teaching pupils about internet safety, risks from inappropriate material, and how to seek help if exposed to harmful online content.
Religious Freedom and Parental Involvement
Parents have a right to be involved in the development of school RSE policies and the content taught, with opportunities to request withdrawal from certain sex education components for their children (except for compulsory relationships education). Schools are encouraged to respect religious freedoms and beliefs while ensuring that children receive inclusive and balanced education about relationships and health.
The guidance encourages schools to be sensitive to the religious background of pupils. Schools with a Christian ethos are granted permission to share a biblical perspective on topics of family, relationships, and sex.
Implementation and Support
All schools must implement this updated guidance by September 1, 2026, to deliver statutory Relationships Education in primary, and RSE plus Health Education in secondary schools. The guidance recognizes that teachers often lack training or time; hence, emphasis is placed on high-quality, evidence-based teaching and pastoral support to meet diverse pupil needs.
The EAUK will be hosting an online webinar this autumn to equip parents on how to engage positively with their school and how to teach and discuss a biblical sexual ethic with children and young people.
In summary, the 2025 updated statutory guidance for RSE and Health Education in England mandates comprehensive, age-appropriate teaching on relationships, consent, mental and physical health, LGBT inclusion, gender identity, and online safety, while explicitly recognizing parental involvement and religious freedoms. The goal is to prepare pupils for adult life with ethical understanding, inclusivity, and personal safety.
- The emphasis on consent education in the updated guidance for RSE and Health Education in England is aimed at equipping children and young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions in various aspects of their lives, including relationships and politics.
- The comprehensive framework for RSE and Health Education in England not only covers general news topics like relationships, consent, LGBT relationships, and gender reassignment, but also extends to education and self-development, emphasizing the importance of fostering resilience, self-worth, honesty, and kindness in students.
