Ministers will consider introducing 鈥渁ge ratings鈥 in new relationships, sex and health education 鈥渢o prevent children being taught concepts that they are too young to understand鈥. The Department for Education has announced an independent, expert panel will advise on the review, brought forward after concerns about 鈥渁ge-inappropriate material鈥 being taught in some schools. Draft guidance will be published 鈥渋n the coming months鈥 with a public consultation to conclude by the end of the year. It will come into statutory force 鈥渁s soon as possible after that,鈥 DfE said. The panel will bring together input from health, children鈥檚 development, curriculum and safeguarding. They will also 鈥渄raw on close work鈥 with inspectorate Ofsted to 鈥渦nderstand what material is currently used in the classroom and consider what improvements might need to be made鈥. When formed, the panel will advise on how to put in place 鈥渃lear safeguards to stop pupils from being taught contested and potentially damaging concepts鈥. This includes considering 鈥渁ge ratings setting out what is appropriate to be taught at what age, to prevent children being taught concepts they are too young to understand鈥. As previously announced, Oak National Academy’s second tender round for curriculum resources will include citizenship and RSHE. Keegan tells schools to provide materials to parents Education secretary Gillian Keegan has written to schools today to remind them they are required by law to publish their RSHE policy and consult parents on it. They should also provide all curriculum materials to parents and stop entering into contracts that seek to prevent parents from seeing materials, she added. Keegan said the 鈥渦rgent review鈥 will get to the 鈥渉eart of how RSHE is currently taught and should be taught in the future鈥. 鈥淭his will leave no room for any disturbing content, restore parents’ confidence, and make sure children are even better protected.” But Geoff Barton, general secretary of heads鈥 union ASCL, said it 鈥渋s very disappointing to see education secretary Gillian Keegan鈥檚 implicit criticism of schools when she says the review will restore the confidence of parents鈥. 鈥淚n fact, the vast majority of schools teach this subject cautiously, sensitively and in an age-appropriate manner. Claims made about inappropriate teaching are overblown, sweeping and supported by evidence which is flimsy at best.鈥 Barton said government has provided 鈥渧ery little training support for the teaching of this subject and we sincerely hope the review that is due to take place will make recommendations around providing more and better-resourced training鈥. 鈥淭his is such a sensitive and difficult subject to navigate that it really requires the provision of specialist teachers, but the government expects it to be taught by existing classroom teachers who are also teaching other subjects. “As ever, it expects to deliver major policies on the cheap, and then is quick to criticise schools.鈥