References

Department for Education. Relationships education, relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education. 2019. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education (accessed 8 March 2020)

Sex Education Forum. Young people's RSE poll 2019. 2019. http://bit.ly/2Yy1Gol (accessed 8 March 2020)

RSE: Asking young people for their views on relationships and sex education

02 March 2020
Volume 1 | British Journal of Child health · Issue 1

Abstract

Who better to ask about what is needed from relationships and sex education than the children themselves. This is what the Sex Education Forum has done and the findings are revealing. Lucy Emmerson explains

Changes to relationships and sex education (RSE) take effect this September and mean that all primary and secondary schools in England will need to update their provision.

Seeing this as an opportunity to better understand pupils' needs can be a helpful starting point. The new legislation was, after all, driven by the desire to protect children and young people, and support them to be healthy, happy and safe in their relationships and growing up.

Curriculum content for relationships education, RSE and health education is set out in updated government guidance on the subject (Department for Education, 2019), which leaves flexibility for schools to determine where to place emphasis. The guidance also recommends involving pupils in developing the school policy. This is to be commended because consulting pupils will give teachers fresh insight into what is needed and build a stronger case to share with staff, parents and governors.

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