PSHE education

What is required?

All schools must have an up-to-date policy, which is made available to parents and others. Schools must provide a copy of the policy free of charge to anyone who asks for one and should publish the policy on the school website.

Policies for mandatory subjects

The policy for education should:

• Define relationships education
• set out the subject content, how it is taught and who is responsible for teaching it
• describe how the subject is monitored and evaluated
• include information to clarify why parents do not have a right to withdraw their child
• confirm the date by which the policy will be reviewed.

The policy for secondary education should:

• Define relationships and sex education
• set out the subject content, how it is taught and who is responsible for teaching it
• describe how the subject is monitored and evaluated
• include information about a parent's right to request that their child be excused from sex education within relationship and sex education only
• confirm the date by which the policy will be reviewed.

Policies for non-mandatory subjects

For primary schools that choose to teach sex education, the policy should:

• Define any sex education they choose to teach other than that covered in the science curriculum
• set out the subject content, how it is taught and who is responsible for teaching it
• describe how the subject is monitored and evaluated
• include information about a parent's right to request that their child be excused
• confirm the date by which the policy will be reviewed.

Typical policies

Policies are likely to include sections covering:

• Details of content and scheme of work and when each topic is taught, taking account of the age of pupils
• who delivers either relationships education or relationship and sex education
• how the policy has been produced, and how it will be kept under review, in both cases working with parents
• how delivery of the content will be made accessible to all pupils, including those with SEND
• explanation of the right to withdraw
• requirements on schools in law, such as The Equality Act 2010: advice for schools
• how often the policy is updated
• who approves the policy.

In secondary schools, relationship and sex education will often address aspects of relationships and sex education in an integrated way within a single topic. Schools should develop programmes of teaching which prioritise effective delivery of the content, and do not need artificially to separate sex education and relationships education.

The policy should also reflect the views of teachers and pupils. Listening and responding to the views of young people will strengthen the policy, making sure that it meets the needs of all pupils.

• Relationship and sex education policy template (coming soon)

Information for parents

The following guide, produced by the sex education forum, suggests what subjects to explore with children and young people from aged three to 18.

• Three to six: Children are interested in the differences between boys and girls, naming body parts, where babies come from and friends and family. It's also important at this age to convey to children what areas of the body are private and should not be touched.
• Seven to eight: Children are curious about the changing nature of friendships; what children can do if they are being bullied; the emotional and physical changes of growing up; coping with strong emotions.
• Nine to 10: They will be interested in knowing about love and different kinds of families. Many will be on the brink of puberty and so will be curious about menstruation, sexual feelings and changing body image.
• 11 to 13: At this age, most children will be entering puberty and will be interested in hormones and how they will be affected by them. They will also want to know about the difference between sexual attraction and love and whether it is normal to be attracted to someone of the same gender.
• 14 to 16: By now, some will be sexually experimental or know friends who are, despite the legal age for having sex being 16. They will be interested to know what they should expect of a relationship and may want more information on contraception, sexual health and how to access services. They will want to know more about coping with strong feelings and the pressure to have sex.
• 16 to 18: As teens reach the age of consent and some start to form intimate relationships, they will be interested to know about the challenges of long-term commitments and the qualities needed for successful loving relationships. They may want to learn more about being gay, bisexual or transgender and to discuss gender stereotyping, violence, exploitation, the law and discrimination.