Parents can see RSHE curriculum materials

The Education Secretary has written to all schools in England to make clear that they can and should share relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) curriculum materials with parents.

In addition, she has written an open letter to parents  to encourage them to have confidence in their right to know what their children are seeing and being taught in the classroom, see both letters here.

The letter makes clear that companies providing teaching resources cannot use copyright law to forbid schools from sharing materials and any attempt to do so through contract terms would be unenforceable and void.

The Secretary of State is clear that if a provider were to attempt to forbid sharing with parents when asked, schools should continue regardless, because a blanket ban would contradict the clear public interest in parents being aware of what their children are being taught.

In the event that a school is faced with contractual clauses, the Education Secretary is backing schools defending parents’ rights with a practical sample letter that all schools can adapt and send to external providers making clear such clauses are void on the grounds that they are unenforceable.

It makes clear that where parents cannot attend a presentation or they are unable to view materials via a “parent portal”, such as a school website, schools may provide copies of materials to parents to take home on request, providing parents agree to avoid copying the content or sharing it further.

The Education Secretary and departmental officials say that they have been listening to parents and teachers as part of the thorough review into the RSHE curriculum and will publish the updated guidance for full public consultation later this year.