Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education (July 2025)

The Department for Education (DfE) has published updated statutory guidance for RSHE, which replaces the 2019 version. Schools are required to implement the new guidance by September 2026. However, schools may begin using the updated content earlier if they are prepared. Training and resources are available to support early adoption.

Introduction to RSHE Guidance (July 2025)

Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) gives children the knowledge and skills to make informed, ethical choices about their health, wellbeing and relationships. It helps them grow into respectful, confident and kind individuals. RSHE supports their moral, social, mental and physical development. As the guidance states, “Effective teaching will support prevention of harms by helping young people understand and identify when things are not right.”

By law, all primary schools must teach relationships education. All secondary schools must teach relationships and sex education (RSE). Health education is also compulsory in all schools, except independent schools. Schools must follow this guidance unless they have strong reasons not to. As the document says, “Schools must have regard to the guidance, and where they depart… they will need to have good reasons for doing so.”

This guidance applies to all schools - maintained, academies, free schools, independent schools, special schools and pupil referral units. It is for teachers, school leaders, governors and local authorities.

Every school must have a written RSHE policy. Parents must be consulted and allowed to see the materials used. The policy must explain what is taught, when it is taught, who teaches it, how it is made accessible to all pupils, and how parents can request to withdraw their child from sex education.

The guidance sets out clear principles. Schools should involve pupils and parents, promote positive attitudes, and teach topics in a clear and age-appropriate way. Lessons should be delivered by trained staff and supported by a whole-school approach.

Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn from sex education. They cannot withdraw their child from relationships or health education. From three terms before turning 16, pupils can choose to opt back in. Schools must provide alternative education for pupils who are withdrawn.

Key changes and additions

Online Safety and Misogyny

The guidance places a strong emphasis on safeguarding pupils from online harms. This includes teaching about:

Artificial intelligence (AI) risks such as deepfakes and chatbots.
Sextortion and online scams.
The influence of misogynistic online content and incel culture.
The criminal nature of sharing indecent images of individuals under the age of 18.

Pupils must be taught how to identify fake or harmful content and how to report concerns. The guidance states:

“Pornography can negatively influence sexual attitudes and behaviours… and provide some people with a sense of sexual entitlement to the bodies of others.”

Sexual Harassment and Violence

The updated guidance strengthens content on sexual harassment and sexual violence. Pupils must learn:

What constitutes harassment and violence.
That such behaviours are unacceptable.
That victims are never to blame.

Additional topics include stalking, revenge pornography, upskirting, financial sexual exploitation, strangulation, and suffocation. The guidance acknowledges that sexual violence is often gendered but stresses that boys should not be treated as the problem and that they can also be victims.

Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

The guidance expands coverage of mental health topics. Pupils should understand that feelings of worry or sadness are normal and not necessarily signs of a mental health condition unless persistent and severe. New content includes:

Grief and loss.
Loneliness.
Building resilience and emotional regulation.

Suicide prevention remains part of the curriculum. However, schools must consult mental health professionals and ensure staff receive evidence-based training before delivering this content.

Gender Identity and Biological Sex

The guidance clarifies that pupils must be taught the facts and legal context regarding biological sex and gender reassignment. It explicitly states that schools must not teach that everyone has a gender identity as fact. Schools should avoid:

Language or activities that reinforce gender stereotypes.
Suggesting that social transition is a simple solution to distress.

External resources must not oversimplify gender identity or encourage pupils to question their gender. The guidance advises:

“Schools should be careful not to endorse any particular view or teach it as fact.”

Parental engagement and transparency

Schools are required to consult parents when developing or reviewing RSHE policies. They must:

Provide a representative sample of teaching materials.
Allow parents to view all RSHE content upon request.
Avoid entering contracts that restrict parental access to materials.

The guidance confirms that any contractual clauses preventing schools from sharing materials with parents are void and unenforceable. It states:

“Parents must be able to view all curriculum materials used to teach RSHE on request.”

Primary education

Sex education in primary schools remains non-compulsory but is strongly recommended for pupils in Years 5 and 6. Content must be factual, age-appropriate, and aligned with the science curriculum. Parents must be consulted and retain the right to withdraw their children from sex education lessons.

Use of external providers

Schools are fully responsible for all content delivered by external visitors. They must:

Review lesson plans and materials in advance.
Ensure content is accurate, age-appropriate, and unbiased.
Avoid providers with links to harmful products or partisan views.
Ensure visitors follow safeguarding procedures.

Faith-Based perspectives

All schools may teach faith perspectives on relationships and sex. Faith schools may include their distinctive views but must:

Clearly distinguish between religious belief and factual content.
Ensure all teaching complies with the Equality Act.

The guidance allows for balanced debate on contentious issues.

Additional Topics Introduced

The 2025 guidance includes new content on:

Personal safety around roads, railways, and water.
Gambling and online financial harms.
Vaping and pregnancy health.
Menstrual and gynaecological health, including polycystic ovary syndrome and heavy menstrual bleeding.
Parenting and brain development.
Virginity testing and bereavement.

Teaching and delivery

The guidance highlights the importance of teacher expertise and professional judgment. It encourages the use of safe learning environments and distancing techniques. Shock tactics are discouraged. Ethical behaviour is framed as going beyond consent, including kindness and understanding power dynamics.

Governance and review

The DfE will review the RSHE guidance every six years, with technical updates every three years to ensure compliance with new legislation. School governors must ensure that RSHE content aligns with statutory guidance and is accessible to all stakeholders.

Equality and inclusion

The guidance reaffirms the requirement to teach all protected characteristics under the Equality Act by the end of secondary education. This includes sexuality and gender reassignment. The DfE has responded to consultation feedback by maintaining inclusive content without endorsing specific viewpoints.

Useful resources:

The outcome of the consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/review-of-the-rshe-statutory-guidance#full-publication-update-history

Guide on what parents need to know: https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2025/07/new-rshe-guidance-what-parents-need-to-know/

The published guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education#full-publication-update-history