PUBLISHED - RSHE Statutory Guidance: Summary of Changes
The DfE has published revised statutory guidance on Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), which becomes effective in September 2026. This update follows a public consultation and brings changes across multiple areas, including online safety, sexual ethics, and mental health.
You can download the statutory document HERE.
Below is a summary of the key updates:
Greater Focus on Online Safety & Misogyny
Expanded content on online risks, including deepfakes, pornography, scams, AI chatbots, and fake social media accounts.
New material on online misogyny and incel culture, helping pupils recognise harmful ideologies and their impact on sexual ethics.
Clarification that indecent images are criminal offences.
Limited free support is available from Oak National Academy, who have releasedfree lessons on online safety.
Strengthened Teaching on Sexual Harassment & Violence
Clearer definitions of sexual harassment and violence and why they are unacceptable.
Additional topics include:
Stalking, pornography, upskirting
Financial sexual exploitation
Strangulation and suffocation
Emphasis on recognising that boys can also be victims, and gendered issues should not result in stereotyping.
Mental Health & Emotional Wellbeing
Pupils should learn that feeling low or worried is normal, and not in themselves a sign of a mental health condition.
The curriculum now includes:
Emotional regulation
Coping strategies
Building resilience
LGBT+ Inclusion Maintained
The majority of consultation responses opposed changes to LGBT content.
Revised guidance confirms:
Teaching on same-sex families should be included in primary schools.
LGBT content should be integrated across RSHE in secondary schools.
Pupils must be taught about protected characteristics, including sexuality and gender reassignment.
Schools are reminded to teach the facts and legal context only, and not present contested views as fact.
Age-Appropriate Judgement Reaffirmed
The proposal to set strict age limits for teaching certain topics has been dropped.
Schools can use their professional judgement to determine when content is appropriate.
Schools must continue to consult parents and provide access to teaching resources on request.
Parent Engagement
Schools must:
Engage with and consult parents when reviewing RSHE policies.
Share a representative sample of materials used in lessons.
Parents cannot veto curriculum content, but their requests to see materials must be handled constructively.
Schools must not sign contracts with external providers that prevent resource sharing with parents.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide prevention remains part of the curriculum.
Schools are advised to:
Seek input from mental health professionals.
Ensure evidence-based staff training is in place before delivering content.
Implementation Support
The DfE is considering how to support schools with delivery ahead of the 2026 statutory deadline.
The PSHE Association will produce further guidance, training, and resources.
Other New Curriculum Areas
The revised RSHE guidance introduces or expands teaching on:
Loneliness
Vaping
Gambling
Bereavement
Antimicrobial resistance
- Pregnancy & healthy behaviours
FGM, virginity testing & hymenoplasty
- Brain development
Characteristics of successful parenting
Personal safety (roads, rail, water)
What’s Next?
The revised guidance is set to become statutory from September 2026.
Further updates (e.g. guidance on gender-questioning children) are expected later in 2025.
Schools should begin reviewing their RSHE curriculum and policies now in preparation.
KCSiE 2025 Free Webinar
Join us for our FREE webinar in September which will focus on the changes to the latest published DfE guidance’s including KCSiE, EYFS, RSHE, Ofsted and more.
