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Relationship and Sex Education (RSE), formerly Sex and Relationships Education (SRE), is a form of sex education taught in UK schools. SRE focuses on exploring the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, having relationships, engaging in sex, and learning about human sexuality and sexual health.^[1]

On 1 March 2017, the UK Minister for Education Justine Greening released a statement that in the UK that the term Sex and Relationship Education would be changed to Relationship and Sex Education.^[2]

United Kingdom

Sex and Relationship Education is designed to equip children and young people with the information, skills and values to have safe, fulfilling and enjoyable relationships and to take responsibility for their sexual health and well-being.^[1] The private areas of the body and the scientific names for body parts are taught to some as young as age four.^[3]^[4]

The UK Learning and Skills Act 2000 requires that:^[5]

young people learn about the nature of marriage and its importance for family life and bringing up children.
young people are protected from teaching and materials which are inappropriate, having regard to the age and the religious and cultural background of the pupils concerned.
school governing bodies have regard for the guidance.
parents have the right to withdraw their child from all or part of SRE provided outside national curriculum science.

Following sustained political pressure,^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9] in March 2017 it was announced by the Department for Education (DFE) that from September 2019 Relationship Education (RE) in primary schools and Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) in secondary schools will be made mandatory in England by the UK government.^[2]

A consultation was held by the DfE from 19 December 2017 to 12 February 2018 to inform the updated guidelines that will be released prior to the new mandatory subject being added to the curriculum in England in 2019.

Wales

In Wales, RSE is governed by the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Code. RSE must include relationships and identity; sexual health and well-being; empowerment, safety and respect and must develop awareness on views and values and a diversity of relationships, gender and sexuality, including LGBTQ+ lives.^[10]

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, RSE is governed by the Relationships and Sexuality Education Progression Framework. It shows how the different themes cover the following priority areas of RSE:

Consent;
Developments in Contraception;
Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse;
Healthy, Positive Sexual Expression and Relationships;
Internet Safety;
LGBTQ+ Matters;
Social Media and Its Effects on Relationships and Self-Esteem;
Teen Parenting; and
Menstrual Wellbeing.^[11]

Scotland

In Scotland, RSE is known as RSHP ("Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood") and is governed by guidance published by the Scottish government and is designed to teach pupils about making informed decisions about relationships, sexual health and parenthood with regard to their wellbeing.^[12]

Crown Dependencies

Guernsey

In Guernsey, RSE is known as SHARE ("Sexual Health and Relationship Education") and is governed by guidance published by the States of Guernsey and covers STIs, puberty, consent, pregnancy and the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.^[13]

Jersey

In Jersey, RSE is known as SRE and is governed by guidance published by the States of Jersey and covers physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and moral development.^[14]

Isle of Man

On the Isle of Man, RSE is governed by guidance published by the Isle of Man Government and covers relationships with family, friends, employers, colleagues, intimate relationships and connection with their wider communities.^[15]

Australia

Victorian

The Victorian Government (Australia) developed a policy for the promotion of Health and Human Relations Education in schools in 1980 that was introduced into the State's primary and secondary schools during 1981.^[16] The initiative was developed and implemented by the Honorable Norman Lacy MP, Minister for Educational Services from 1979–1982.

A Consultative Council for Health and Human Relations Education was established in December 1980 under the chairmanship of Dame Margaret Blackwood; its members possessed considerable expertise in the area.

The Council had three major functions:

to advise and to be consulted on all aspects of Health and Human Relations' Education in schools;
to develop, for consideration of the Government, appropriate curriculum for schools;
to advise and recommend the standards for in-service courses for teachers and relevant members of the school community.

Support services for the Consultative Council were provided by a new Health and Human Relations Unit within the Special Services Division of the Education Department of Victoria and was responsible for the implementation of the Government's policy and guidelines in this area. The Unit advised principals, school councils, teachers, parents, tertiary institutions and others in all aspects of Health and Human Relations Education.

In 1981, the Consultative Council recommended the adoption of a set of guidelines for the provision of Health and Human Relations Education in schools as well as a Curriculum Statement to assist schools in the development of their programs. These were presented to the Victorian Cabinet in December 1981 and adopted as Government policy.

Notes

^ ^a ^b UK DofE. Sex and Relationship Education Guidance.
^ ^a ^b "Schools to teach 21st century relationships and sex education – GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
^ What children should be taught in sex ed from age four to 11
^ Lynnette. "Working with Primaries – Big Talk Education". bigtalkeducation.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
^ FPA. Sex and relationships education.
^ "Fixers Investigates: The Trouble with Sex in Schools" (PDF). April 2016.
^ "The letter in full: 'David Cameron must update sex and relationships guidance'". 4 September 2013. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
^ "The failure to make sex education mandatory is leaving children vulnerable, says Labour MP Stella Creasy". Tes. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
^ "Sexual harassment and violence in schools discussed with experts – News from Parliament". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
^ Department for Education and Skills (25 January 2022). "Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Code" (PDF). Welsh Government. Retrieved 3 July 2024. This mandatory RSE Code supports schools to design their RSE. The content is set within the context of broad and interlinked learning strands, namely: relationships and identity; sexual health and well-being; empowerment, safety and respect.
^ Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (25 January 2022). "Relationships and Sexuality Education Progression Framework" (PDF). Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment. Retrieved 3 July 2024. This framework provides a non-statutory progression pathway in RSE from the Foundation Stage to post-16. It shows how the different themes cover the following priority areas of RSE: Consent; Developments in Contraception; Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse; Healthy, Positive Sexual Expression and Relationships; Internet Safety; LGBTQ+ Matters; Social Media and Its Effects on Relationships and Self-Esteem; Teen Parenting; and Menstrual Wellbeing. Text was copied from this source, which is available under an Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright.
^ Scottish Government (25 January 2022). "Conduct of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Education in Schools" (PDF). Scottish Government. Retrieved 3 July 2024. RSHP education is a key part of Health and Wellbeing within Curriculum for Excellence. RSHP education focuses on equipping children and young people with the knowledge, skills and values to make informed and positive choices about forming relationships. It can assist with making safer decisions about their sexual and emotional health and wellbeing in a responsible and healthy manner, as an important part of preparation for adult life. Children and young people develop an understanding of how to maintain positive relationships with a variety of people and are aware of how thoughts, feelings, attitudes, values and beliefs can influence decisions about relationships and sexual health. They also develop an understanding of the complex role and responsibilities of being a parent or carer.
^ States of Guernsey. "Conduct of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Education in Schools". GOV.GG. States of Guernsey. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
^ States of Jersey. "Sex and Relationships Education Policy" (PDF). GOV.JE. States of Jersey. Retrieved 3 July 2024. Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is lifelong learning about physical, emotional, psychological, sexual and moral development. It is about understanding the importance of consistent, stable and loving relationships within the context of respectful, loving, and caring family life.
^ Isle of Man Government (9 April 2024). "What is RSE?". GOV.IM. Isle of Man Government. Retrieved 3 July 2024. The relationships component of RSE focuses on providing children with the knowledge needed to develop and maintain positive connections with others throughout their lives. This includes relationships with family, friends, employers, colleagues, intimate relationships and connection with their wider communities.
^ "Health and Human Relations Education". Education Department of Victoria. 1982. Retrieved 7 February 2015.