Following the implementation of new Government statutory requirements in September 2020, we updated our Relationship and Sex Education programme. The main changes are detailed below:

1. Sex and Relationships Education has changed its name to Relationship and Sex Education.

Although this may seem unimportant, the idea behind the change is to emphasise the importance of positive, healthy relationships and how these are important in a range of contexts. Teaching Relationship and Sex Education has become compulsory.

2. Health Education has also become compulsory. 

This is taught as part of our PSHE (personal, social, health, and economic education) and through National Curriculum Science.

3. This new curriculum covers broad areas of particular relevance and concern to children and young people today. 

For the first time it states clearly what students should know by the time they leave secondary school. The aim is that every pupil is guaranteed an education that covers mental health and wellbeing; physical health (including healthy lifestyles and first aid); learning about safe, healthy relationships and sex (including understanding consent, negotiating life online, intimate relationships). The PSHE overview, with links embedded to more detailed Learning Journey information can be accessed on the school website.

4. Policy.

Our policy has been updated to reflect these changes and is also available for parents to access on our website. 

5. Changes to the Right to Withdraw. 

Parents will continue to have a right to request to withdraw their child from sex education delivered as part of RSE which, unless there are exceptional circumstances, should be granted up to three terms before their child turns 16. At this point, if the child themselves wishes to receive sex education rather than be withdrawn, the school should make arrangements for this to happen in one of the three terms before the child turns 16.  

Parents do not have a right to withdraw their child from Health and Relationships Education. 

There will continue to be no right of withdrawal from National Curriculum Science which includes elements of sex education such as puberty and reproduction. 

We thank you for continuing to support us in the delivery of high quality RSE education through our PSHE programme.