Updated Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education Statutory Guidance

Jul 25 / Mark Allday

On 15th July 2025 the DfE published updated its Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education statutory guidance. This guidance contains information on what schools should do and sets out the legal duties with which schools must comply when teaching Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education.

It will be statutory from September 2026. Meaning that schools do not have to adopt it from this coming September, but can do so if they wish.

New topics cover positive male role models, AI-generated sexual imagery, and updated guidance on LGBT content.

The heavily debated addition of placing age limits on particular topics has not been included within the new guidance.

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Summary of Changes

Updated Curriculum Content for All Schools

The latest RSHE guidance introduces several important updates for both primary and secondary schools. Key messages include the need for staff to actively challenge everyday sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and gender stereotypes.


All pupils should now be taught about:

  • The connection between sexism, misogyny, and violence against women and girls
  • How to identify and learn from positive male role models
  • What ethical behaviour looks like in relationships—going beyond boundaries and consent


Primary School Expectations

Primary pupils should be taught about:

  • Respectful relationships, personal boundaries, and the risks of sharing images and information online
  • Sex education in Years 5 and/or 6 – this remains non-compulsory but is strongly recommended
  • Sharing of nude images or online sexual content if it’s relevant to your pupils or if they’ve been exposed to pornography


Secondary School Expectations

For older pupils, the updated guidance includes teaching on:

  • The harmful influence of pornography on attitudes and behaviour
  • The impact of online sub-cultures such as ‘incels’ on views of sex and relationships
  • The rise of AI-generated sexual imagery and deepfake content
  • A deeper understanding of consent and power dynamics in relationships


Secondary schools are also encouraged to address suicide prevention in RSHE where appropriate.

No Age Limits on Specific Topics

The final guidance no longer includes specific age limits for certain sensitive subjects. Instead, it outlines what should be taught by the end of primary and by the end of secondary.


This gives schools more flexibility to make age-appropriate decisions based on their context.

New Guidance on LGBT Content

A new section provides clearer direction on LGBTQ+ topics, expanding beyond Equality Act compliance.

All schools should:

  • Ensure pupils understand the facts and legal context around biological sex and gender reassignment—including where rights may differ based on biological sex
  • Include same-sex parents/carers when teaching about families

Secondary schools should also:

  • Ensure same-sex relationships are fully integrated into RSHE, not taught in isolation
  • Provide equal opportunities to explore what makes a stable, healthy same-sex relationship

It is important to not:
  • Teach as fact that all people have a gender identity
  • Use oversimplified or stereotyped materials (e.g. diagrams or cartoons that misrepresent gender identity)

Parental Engagement Remains Crucial

You must consult parents/carers when developing or reviewing your RSHE policy.

  • Be transparent: Parents/carers must be able to view all RSHE teaching materials on request.

  • If you use resources from external providers, you can tell them you're legally required to share these materials with families.

Parents and carers still have the right to withdraw their child from sex education:

  • In primary schools, this must be granted automatically.

  • In secondary schools, schools may now refuse a request to withdraw a pupil in exceptional cases, such as safeguarding concerns.

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