红桃影视

The government has finally published long-awaited guidance for schools on relationships, sex and health education. Here are the nine key changes leaders need to know.

will replace the current document, in place since 2019, from September 2026.

You can read our news story on the changes the government has made to the Conservatives鈥� draft document from 2023 here.

The main changes are that proposed age limits for certain topics will now not be added to the guidance, though schools will have to ensure their curriculum is 鈥渞elevant, age and stage appropriate鈥�

The guidance will also not explicitly tell schools not to teach about gender identity, something proposed by the Tories.

Here we run down the main changes that will actually come into force next year, including those put forward by the Conservatives and kept in by Labour and those added by the new government.

1. Primaries ‘encouraged’ to teach about same-sex parents

An updated section on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender content states that primary schools are 鈥渟trongly encouraged鈥� to teach about healthy loving relationships 鈥渁nd to include same-sex parents along with other family arrangements when discussing families鈥�. 

The Tories’ draft simply stated they had discretion to do so.

At secondary school, 鈥渢here should be an equal opportunity to explore the features of stable and healthy same-sex relationships, and secondary schools should ensure that this content is integrated into RSHE programmes of study rather than delivered as a standalone unit or lesson鈥�.

Schools should 鈥渆nsure that they cover all the facts about sexual health, including STIs, in a way that is relevant for all pupils, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or gender questioning鈥�.

2. Tories’ proposed gender identity ban ditched

The Conservative government’s proposed guidance explicitly told schools not to teach about gender identity.

But the finalised document states pupils should 鈥渂e taught the facts and the law about biological sex and gender reassignment鈥�.

This should recognise 鈥渢hat people have legal rights by virtue of their biological sex which are different from the rights of those of the opposite sex with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment鈥�.

Pupils 鈥渟hould also be taught to recognise that people with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment, as with the other protected characteristics, have protection from discrimination and should be treated with respect and dignity.

In teaching this, schools 鈥渟hould be mindful that beyond the facts and the law about biological sex and gender reassignment there is significant debate, and they should be careful not to endorse any particular view or teach it as fact鈥�.

For example, they should 鈥渘ot teach as fact that all people have a gender identity, and 鈥渟hould be mindful to avoid any suggestion that social transition is a simple solution to feelings of distress or discomfort鈥�.

3. Greater emphasis on misogyny

Much of the additional content proposed by the Conservatives鈥� review has been retained, although the guidance has been beefed up with more content about misogyny, an issue Labour has promised to help schools deal with.

New content on sexual harassment and sexual violence 鈥渨as welcomed by respondents鈥�, government said, and it has now 鈥渟trengthened this content further on the basis of evidence about the harms that young people are exposed to or at risk of鈥�.

In addition to previously planned new content on stalking, public sexual harassment, revenge porn, and upskirting, government has added additional content on financial sexual exploitation, strangulation and suffocation.

鈥淲e have also added content on how to increase personal safety in public spaces, recognising that sexual harassment and abuse are never the fault of the victim.鈥�

4. ‘Flexibility’ for primaries to teach about sexual imagery

Content on pornography has been strengthened in secondary relationships education, recognising 鈥測oung people increasingly turn to pornography for information about sex and that young people are viewing pornography at increasingly young ages鈥�.

Because primary pupils are 鈥渋ncreasingly accessing inappropriate content online鈥�, the new curriculum 鈥渁ddresses this directly鈥�.

There will be 鈥渇lexibility for primary schools to teach about sexual imagery online, starting in late primary, where this is an issue in their school鈥�.

The curriculum will teach young people 鈥渁bout the influence of incel culture and give young people the tools to analyse the norms and assumptions embedded in the content they might find online鈥�.

5. Suicide prevention lessons ‘when pupils are ready’

There is also new content on suicide prevention, also proposed under the Conservatives鈥� reforms.

The government said it would allow teachers 鈥渢o introduce the topic as soon as pupils are ready, taking into account age and experience of pupils, parents views and the confidence and skills of teachers鈥�.

The guidance also includes content on eating disorders and self-harm and the importance of seeking specialist help.

6. Deepfakes, gambling and virginity testing all added

The Conservatives鈥� consultation proposed additional content on鈥�

• Loneliness
• Gambling
• Prevalence of ‘deepfakes鈥� 
• Antimicrobial resistance 
• Healthy behaviours during pregnancy
• Illegal online behaviours including drug and knife supply
• Personal safety, including road, railway and water safety 
• Vaping
• Menstrual and gynaecological health including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), heavy menstrual bleeding 
• Parenting and early years brain development 
• Virginity testing and hymenoplasty 
• Bereavement

The new guidance confirms their inclusion, and in its consultation response, the DfE said it recognised 鈥渢hat there is a concern that for some teachers this may be new and therefore have restricted capability and capacity to implement these topics. 

鈥淭o give teachers time to prepare to teach the new content, schools will not be expected to start teaching from the revised guidance until September 2026. We are considering how best to support teachers to deliver the content.鈥�

7. Consult parents and show them resources, leaders told

The guidance adds a new section on how schools should share what they鈥檙e teaching with parents. This is similar to a section proposed under the Conservatives.

The guidance states that schools should take 鈥渟teps to pro-actively engage parents and make sure they are aware of what is being taught in RSHE鈥�.

These steps might include inviting parents into school, and 鈥渟upporting parents in managing conversations with their children about RSHE topics鈥�.

Schools 鈥渕ust consult parents when developing and reviewing their RSE policies鈥�, show parents a 鈥渞epresentative sample of the resources that they plan to use鈥� and 鈥渆nsure that parents are able to view all curriculum materials used to teach RSHE on request鈥�.

However, the guidance goes on to state that parents are 鈥渘ot able to veto curriculum content鈥�, even though it is 鈥渞ight that they are able to see what their children are being taught, especially in relation to sensitive topics鈥�.

8. Copyright clauses ‘null and void’

When contracting with external providers, schools 鈥渟hould not agree to any contractual restrictions on showing parents any content that the school will use鈥�.

Where contractual clauses exist that seek to prevent schools sharing any material at all with parents, 鈥渢hey are void and unenforceable鈥�.

Where parents are unable to view materials online or cannot attend a presentation, schools 鈥渃an provide copies of materials to parents to take home, providing parents agree to a similar statement that they will not copy the content or share it further except as authorised under copyright law鈥�.

9. Move to full review every six years

The current guidance states that it 鈥渨ill be reviewed three years from first required teaching鈥�. This is what prompted the Conservatives鈥� 2023 review, although they repeatedly said at the time they had brought it forward in response to parent concerns.

The new guidance simply states it will be 鈥渒ept under review鈥�.

In its consultation response, the DfE said it proposed to 鈥渦ndertake a technical review every three years and a full content review every six years.

鈥淭he technical review will update any factual inaccuracies and new legislation but not otherwise seek to make changes to the content that schools have to teach.鈥�