Changes to sex education

In 2020, Relationships and Sex Education was made compulsory for all secondary school pupils in England and Health Education compulsory for all pupils in state-funded schools.

The results of the first review of the curriculum following reports of pupils being taught inappropriate content in RSHE in some schools has now been published.  Views from parents, schools and others are now being sought in a consultation before the guidance is finalised and the implementation date is set.

Following the panel’s advice, age limits have been introduced to ensure children aren’t being taught about sensitive and complex subjects before they are ready to fully understand them.

It is being made clear that the concept of gender identity is highly contested and should not be taught, but the facts about biological sex and gender reassignment will still be taught.

The guidance for schools also contains a new section on transparency with parents, making it absolutely clear that parents have a legal right to know what their children are being taught in RSHE and can request to see teaching materials.

In primary school, subjects such as the risks about online gaming, social media and scams should not be taught before year 3.

Puberty shouldn’t be taught before year 4, whilst sex education shouldn’t be taught before year 5, in line with what pupils learn about conception and birth as part of the national curriculum for science.

In secondary school, issues regarding sexual harassment shouldn’t be taught before year 7, direct references to suicide before year 8 and any explicit discussion of sexual activity before year 9.

Following the consultation, the guidance will be statutory, which means schools must follow it unless there are exceptional circumstances. However, there is some flexibility within the age ratings, as schools will sometimes need to respond to questions from pupils about age-restricted content, if they come up earlier.

In these circumstances, schools are instructed to make sure that teaching is limited to the essential facts without going into unnecessary details, and parents should be informed.

Schools will be able to use the guidance as soon as it is published as a final version later this year along with an implementation period before the guidance comes into force.

Parents are not able to veto curriculum content, but they should be able to see what their children are being taught, which gives them the opportunity to raise issues or concerns through the school’s own processes, if they want to.

Parents still have the right to withdraw their child from sex education, but not from the essential content covered in relationships education.