What Does the Guidance Mean for Secondary Schools?

You might have already read some of our blog posts on the new guidance. We hope you enjoyed them if you have!

Like primary schools, Relationships Education (RE) and Health Education are mandatory in secondary schools and parents/carers cannot withdraw their children. But they do have the right to withdraw their children from Sex Education up to and until three terms before the child turns 16.

Throughout the guidance, it is encouraged that secondary RSE should build on primary RE. So, when creating content, it would be a great idea to find out what your students already know – and what they don’t (and maybe what they think they know but don’t get quite right).

The aim of RSE in secondary schools is to give young people the information they need to help them develop healthy, nurturing relationships of all kinds, not just intimate relationships. At Loudmouth it is important to us that young people are happy, healthy and safe – just like our banners say!

RSE should address aspects of relationships and sex in an integrated way within a single topic. Schools should develop programmes of teaching which prioritise effective delivery of the content rather than unnecessarily splitting Sex Education and Relationships Education.

The guidance includes a clear table of topics that should be included in secondary RSE. However, you may have questions about certain topics, including LGBT, Puberty, Digital Issues and Sexual Harassment.

Our series of blogs will address these topics, and others, in more detail over the coming months. Keep your eye on our website to stay up to date.

You can also sign up to the Loudmouth E-Newsletter to keep updated and receive support along your journey to RSE 2020.

Remember, a great way to start getting ready for September 2020 is to use the Sex Education Forum and PSHE Association's Roadmap and tools. You can read more about these here.