What Schools Must Do to Meet Updated RSHE Standards
The landscape of Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) in UK schools has evolved significantly. With the government’s updated statutory guidance published in December 2025 following the comprehensive 2024 review, schools must now ensure their policies, teaching practices, and documentation meet stricter standards. This guide outlines exactly what your school needs to do to remain compliant.
Understanding the Current Requirements
Since September 2020, RSHE has been mandatory in all UK schools. The recent review and updated guidance strengthen these requirements with clearer expectations around:
- Content standards – What must be taught at each key stage
- Parental engagement – How schools must consult with families
- Safeguarding integration – Linking RSHE to wider child protection policies
- Teaching quality – Ensuring effective, age-appropriate delivery
The guidance applies to all maintained schools (including those with sixth forms), academies and free schools, non-maintained special schools, pupil referral units (PRUs), and independent schools (with some variations).
Key Changes Schools Must Implement
1. Policy Updates and Documentation
Every school must have a clear, published RSHE policy that includes: detailed curriculum content, parental consultation process, withdrawal procedures, faith and cultural considerations, and external visitor protocols.
Action required: Review and update your policy by the end of the current academic year. Ensure it reflects the December 2025 guidance.
2. Parental Consultation Requirements
Schools must actively consult parents about their RSHE approach before policy finalisation, before sensitive content, with resource transparency, and through ongoing dialogue.
Action required: Schedule at least one annual consultation meeting and maintain records of parent feedback.
3. Mandatory Content Areas
Primary Schools (Relationships Education + Health Education)
Pupils must learn about: Healthy friendships and family relationships, respect and boundaries, online safety, puberty (linked to science), and mental wellbeing.
Note: Sex education beyond the science curriculum is not compulsory at primary level, but schools that choose to teach it must have clear policies and consult parents.
Secondary Schools (RSE + Health Education)
Pupils must learn about: Healthy romantic relationships and consent, sexual health, online safety and digital citizenship, grooming and exploitation awareness, FGM and forced marriage, mental health strategies, and legal frameworks.
4. Safeguarding Integration
RSHE must link directly to your school’s safeguarding approach with DSL involvement, clear reporting mechanisms, external visitor agreements, and staff training.
Action required: Ensure your DSL has reviewed your RSHE policy and is involved in curriculum planning.
5. Teaching Quality Standards
Schools must demonstrate: subject leadership, progressive curriculum, differentiation for SEND, assessment, and balanced coverage of different perspectives.
Compliance Checklist for School Leaders
Immediate Actions (Within 4 Weeks)
- ☐ Review current RSHE policy against December 2025 statutory guidance
- ☐ Identify gaps in curriculum coverage
- ☐ Schedule parental consultation meetings
- ☐ Confirm DSL involvement in RSHE planning
Short-Term Actions (Within One Term)
- ☐ Update written RSHE policy and publish on website
- ☐ Audit teaching resources for age-appropriateness
- ☐ Plan staff training on updated requirements
- ☐ Establish external visitor safeguarding protocols
Ongoing Requirements
- ☐ Annual parental consultation and policy review
- ☐ Regular curriculum monitoring by subject lead
- ☐ Integration with whole-school safeguarding practices
- ☐ Pupil voice collection to inform curriculum adjustments
Legal Considerations
Schools must ensure RSHE teaching reflects the law (including Equality Act 2010), is factually accurate, respects religious backgrounds, and protects pupils. Parents retain the right to request withdrawal from sex education (but not relationships or health education) up to three terms before the pupil turns 16.
Conclusion
The updated RSHE requirements place greater emphasis on quality, transparency, and safeguarding. Schools that invest time in thorough policy development, meaningful parental engagement, and integrated safeguarding will not only meet compliance requirements but provide pupils with the knowledge and resilience they need for healthy adult lives.
The deadline for full compliance with the updated guidance is the start of the 2025-2026 academic year. Start your review now to ensure a smooth transition.
Sources
UK Government. (2025). Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education: Statutory Guidance. Department for Education.
UK Government. (2025). Review of the RSHE Statutory Guidance: Government Response. Department for Education.
UK Government. (2025). Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). Department for Education.
