1. Status, scope and legal basis
Say which subjects the school teaches, under which law and guidance, and which version of the guidance the policy follows.
Decide and write down
- Are we primary (relationships education + health education, and do we teach any sex education?), secondary (RSE + health education), all-through, special or AP?
- If we are an independent school, are we including health education voluntarily or covering it through PSHE?
- Which named staff own the policy: RSHE lead, DSL, SENCO, link governor?
Starter wording (edit the highlighted parts)
[School name] teaches [relationships education and health education / relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education] as required by the Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (England) Regulations 2019. This policy follows the Department for Education statutory guidance published July 2025, which schools follow from 1 September 2026. It applies to all pupils in [year groups], including [sixth form / resourced provision / early years where relevant].
2. What we teach, when, and who teaches it
Give parents a clear picture of subject content, timing and teachers, including any external providers.
Must include
- Set out the subject content, how and when it will be taught, and who is responsible for teaching it, including any external providers.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), Developing a policy, para 14
- Differentiate between relationships education and sex education (where sex education is taught) so parents have clear information. Relationships education does not explain the detail of sexual activity but can cover sensitive topics such as sexual violence to keep children safe.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), Developing a policy, para 14
- Sequence teaching so pupils are equipped before they meet situations, cover all statutory topics, and work with colleagues so RSHE complements rather than duplicates science, citizenship, computing and PE.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), Guiding principles, para 15(d); Developing a curriculum, para 51
Decide and write down
- Map each statutory topic heading (primary: Families and people who care for me, Caring friendships, Respectful, kind relationships, Online safety and awareness, Being safe; secondary adds Intimate and sexual relationships, including sexual health) to a year and term.
- Which content sits in science (non-withdrawable) and which in sex education (withdrawable)? Write the boundary down — parents will ask.
- Primary: do we teach sex education beyond science? The guidance recommends it in Years 5 and/or 6.
Starter wording (edit the highlighted parts)
Our programme is taught in [weekly lessons / blocked units / drop-down days] by [class teachers / a specialist team]. A year-by-year overview is published at [link] and in Appendix 1. Relationships education covers [summary]. Sex education, which is taught in [year groups] as [unit names], covers [summary]. Content on [puberty / conception] that is part of the national curriculum for science is taught in science in [year groups].
3. Primary only: sex education and parental consultation
Record whether the school teaches sex education beyond the science curriculum and how parents are consulted on it.
Decide and write down
- Do we teach sex education? If not, say so plainly and explain how questions beyond the curriculum are handled (section 8).
- When and how do we show parents the Year 5/6 materials before teaching?
Starter wording (edit the highlighted parts)
[We teach / We do not teach] sex education beyond the national curriculum for science. [Where taught: In Year [5/6], pupils learn [content]. Before this unit we hold a parents’ session on [date/term], share all materials, and explain the right to request withdrawal.]
4. The right to request withdrawal from sex education
State the withdrawal rules accurately — they differ between primary and secondary and many older policies still use the 2019 wording.
Must include
- The policy must include information about a parent’s right to request that their child is withdrawn from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), Developing a policy, para 14; Parents’ right to request withdrawal, para 16
- Primary: where sex education is provided, the headteacher must automatically grant a request to withdraw, other than from content taught as part of the science curriculum.
“Where primary schools provide sex education, head teachers must automatically grant a request to withdraw a pupil from it, other than content that is taught as part of the science curriculum.”
Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), para 18 - Secondary: the headteacher can refuse a request only in exceptional circumstances, for example safeguarding concerns or a pupil’s specific vulnerability.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), para 18
- From three terms before the pupil turns 16, the pupil can choose to opt back in even if the parent has requested withdrawal; schools should make sure pupils know this.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), para 19
- Good practice before granting a request: the headteacher discusses it with the parents (and the child if appropriate), including the benefits of sex education and the possible effects of withdrawal, and keeps a record.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), para 17
- Withdrawn pupils must receive appropriate, purposeful education during the withdrawal period. There is no right to withdraw from relationships education, health education or science (including puberty and sexual reproduction in science).Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), paras 20–21
Decide and write down
- How do parents make a request (form, email, meeting) and who records it?
- Secondary: who decides whether circumstances are exceptional, and how is the DSL involved?
- What will a withdrawn pupil do during those lessons, and where?
- How and when do we tell secondary pupils about their right to opt back in?
Starter wording (edit the highlighted parts)
Parents and carers can ask for their child to be withdrawn from some or all of sex education by [contacting the headteacher at ...]. The headteacher will offer a conversation to understand the request and explain the curriculum, and will keep a record. [Primary: The headteacher will grant the request for any sex education beyond the science curriculum.] [Secondary: The headteacher will grant the request except in exceptional circumstances, such as a safeguarding concern or a pupil’s specific vulnerability. From three terms before their 16th birthday, a pupil may choose to receive sex education; we will tell pupils about this in [year/term].] Pupils cannot be withdrawn from relationships education, health education or science. A withdrawn pupil will [activity] supervised by [role].
5. Consulting parents and sharing materials
Show how the policy was developed with parents and how parents can see what their children are taught.
Decide and write down
- What consultation did we run for this version (survey, meeting, draft on website), when, and what changed as a result?
- Do we have a parent portal, or will we use presentations and take-home copies?
- How do we involve pupils’ views (guiding principle 15a)?
Starter wording (edit the highlighted parts)
We consulted parents and carers on this policy between [dates] through [method]. [Number] responses were received; as a result we [changes]. Parents can view all RSHE teaching materials [on the parent portal at ... / at a presentation each [term] / by asking [role]]. If we need to add content in response to an issue in school, we will tell parents before teaching it.
6. External providers and visitors
Make sure visitors are checked and that nothing in a contract stops the school showing parents the materials.
Decide and write down
- Which providers do we use this year, for which year groups, and who signed off their materials?
Starter wording (edit the highlighted parts)
We use [provider names] for [topics/year groups]. Before any session, [role] checks the provider’s credentials, reviews all materials and the lesson plan, confirms the materials can be shown to parents, and agrees how safeguarding concerns will be reported to our DSL. A member of staff is present throughout.
7. Equality, religion and belief, and SEND
Explain how RSHE is made accessible to all pupils and taught lawfully.
Must include
- Explain how content will be made accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), para 14; SEND, paras 75–76
- Comply with the Equality Act 2010 (including the public sector equality duty where it applies) and ensure topics are taught in a way that does not discriminate against pupils or amount to harassment.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), Equality, paras 64–65
- Teach the facts and the law about biological sex and gender reassignment without endorsing a particular view on contested questions; consult parents in advance on external resources on this topic.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), LGBT content, paras 69–72
- Schools with a religious character may teach their faith perspective, and should be clear when content reflects religious belief.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), Religion and belief, para 74
Decide and write down
- How are lessons adapted for pupils with SEND, and who (SENCO) agrees the adaptations?
- Secondary: where is same-sex relationship content integrated into the programme rather than taught standalone (para 68)?
8. Safeguarding, confidentiality and difficult questions
Link RSHE to the child protection policy and say how teachers respond to questions beyond the planned content.
Starter wording (edit the highlighted parts)
RSHE lessons can lead to disclosures. Staff follow our child protection policy and report concerns to the DSL, [name]. At the start of each unit, teachers explain ground rules and that they cannot keep a disclosure secret. If a pupil asks a question beyond the planned content, the teacher will [answer briefly and factually / speak with the pupil individually / suggest they talk to a parent or trusted adult / signpost support], and will inform [role] where needed.
9. Roles, monitoring and review
Say who approves the policy, how teaching is monitored and when the policy is reviewed.
Must include
- Describe how the subject is monitored and evaluated, and explain how the policy was produced, who approves it, and how and when it will be reviewed.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), Developing a policy, para 14
- Governing boards and academy proprietors should make sure pupils make progress, teaching is accessible to pupils with SEND, content and materials align with the guidance, and parents get clear information on content, materials, providers and the right to request withdrawal.Source: RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), Governors and Trustees, para 61
Starter wording (edit the highlighted parts)
This policy was drafted by [RSHE lead] with [DSL, SENCO, pupils, parents] and approved by [the governing board / trust board / committee] on [date]. [Role] monitors RSHE through [learning walks, pupil voice, work scrutiny, assessment] and reports to governors [termly/annually]. The policy will be reviewed by [date], or sooner if the statutory guidance changes.
10. Publication
Meet the publication duty.
Starter wording (edit the highlighted parts)
This policy is published at [web address]. A free paper copy is available from the school office.
Checklist
- Replace every reference to the 2019 guidance with the July 2025 guidance (in use from 1 September 2026). (Implementation of revised RSHE guidance, Details)
- Check the policy covers every bullet in para 14 (content and teachers, relationships vs sex education, withdrawal, SEND, monitoring, viewing materials, unanswered questions, approval and review). (RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), Developing a policy, para 14)
- Run and record a parent consultation before approval. (RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), para 12)
- Review external provider contracts and remove any clause stopping parents seeing materials. (RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), paras 57–58)
- Set up a way for parents to see all materials (portal, presentation or take-home copies with a copyright statement). (RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), paras 56, 59–60)
- Secondary: tell pupils about their right to opt back into sex education from three terms before they turn 16. (RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), para 19)
- Brief staff on handling disclosures and difficult questions; train them in safeguarding as the guidance expects. (RSHE statutory guidance 2025 (from Sept 2026), para 15(f); para 87)
- Publish the approved policy on the website and note the next review date.
Watch out
- Version: from 1 September 2026 the July 2025 guidance applies; the 2019 guidance was in force to August 2026. Check GOV.UK for any later update or for the final gender questioning children guidance the 2025 text says is still in draft.
- 2019 wording that older policies still use: the 2019 guidance said schools 'should' publish the policy on the website; the 2025 guidance says 'must'. The 2019 secondary withdrawal wording ('except in exceptional circumstances, the school should respect the parents’ request') has been replaced by the 2025 paras 18–19.
- The GOV.UK topic summary pages in this catalogue (primary, secondary, health) reproduce the 2019 wording, including on gender identity. Do not copy text from them into a 2026 policy.
- Science content (including puberty and reproduction in the science curriculum) is never withdrawable. Make the science / sex education boundary explicit so withdrawal requests can be handled consistently.
- A health education policy is not required, but the guidance calls it good practice to set out how health education is taught (para 13) — many schools fold it into one RSHE policy.
- The guidance notes that the national curriculum does not apply to academies or independent schools (footnote 12). Academies and independent schools should still state which of their science content covers puberty and reproduction, so parents know what cannot be withdrawn.
Based on these official documents
Main sourcePolicy contents, parental consultation and publication, withdrawal from sex education, openness with parents, external providers, governors, equality, SEND, safeguarding and difficult questions.
Supporting sourceConfirms the revised guidance is for introduction on 1 September 2026.
Supporting sourceComparison only: what changed from the 2019 policy requirements and withdrawal wording that older policies were written against.
Supporting sourceTopic summary web page. It reproduces the 2019 guidance wording, so it is listed for reference and not used for any requirement here.
Supporting sourceTopic summary web page. It reproduces the 2019 guidance wording, so it is listed for reference and not used for any requirement here.
Supporting sourceTopic summary web page for health education, for reference when planning content; requirements here come from the 2025 guidance.