National Curriculum

PSHRE & RSE

RSHE Consultation 2026

New statutory requirements for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)

The government has introduced new statutory Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education guidance that all schools must follow from 1st September 2026. Following the Department for Education’s updated statutory guidance released in July 2025, all schools are required to update their policies and curriculum ahead of the  implementation date. We have updated our curriculum to ensure it aligns fully with these requirements and with Redbridge’s local guidance.

 

Key changes in the new guidance
The updated framework strengthens several areas to ensure children are well‑prepared, safe and supported:

  • Personal safety – new content on recognising risks related to fire, water, roads and railways

  • Mental wellbeing – increased focus on emotional regulation, managing feelings like loneliness, and understanding grief and loss

  • Online safety – expanded teaching on digital risks, including scams, online financial harms and age‑restricted content

  • Biological accuracy – reinforced use of correct anatomical vocabulary for safeguarding purposes

Your rights as parents
Relationships and Health Education remain statutory, and there is no right to withdraw children from these lessons. Further details are set out in the government’s statutory guidance.
 
Our updated RSHE curriculum

To meet the new requirements, we have updated our RSHE curriculum and policy. We will continue using the PSHE Association, the curriculum already familiar to our pupils and staff. As part of this process, we are consulting with parents and carers on both the draft policy and the proposed curriculum.

Our updated curriculum has been designed to reflect:

  • Our pupils’ ages and developmental stages, as well as their physical and emotional maturity, and cultural and religious backgrounds

  • Every pupil’s learning needs, including the needs of any pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

  • Our school’s vision and values

  • What pupils need to know to stay healthy and safe in school, in their personal relationships, and in the wider world

 
How to take part in the consultation

Below you will find:

  • The draft RSHE policy

  • An overview of lessons for each year group

  • A parent survey (paper copy and an online version to follow)

You are warmly invited to share your feedback in any of the following ways:

  • Completing the parent survey

  • Emailing your comments to: pittington@durhamlearning.net

 The deadline for responses is Friday Wednesday 15th July.

 We will continue to engage with parents and carers once the final policy is published and will share further information about next steps soon.

Resources & links

Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education Statutory Guidance from September 2026

Parent Consultation: Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE) – Fill in form