Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) became statutory in all secondary schools in England from September 2020, alongside Health Education. Together these subjects form part of a school's Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) programme, though RSE now carries its own distinct legal status and is inspected separately by Ofsted.
What changed in 2020 and why?
Before 2020, sex education was compulsory in state secondary schools but relationships education was not statutory in its own right. The Children and Social Work Act 2017 required the government to make both Relationships Education (at primary) and Relationships and Sex Education (at secondary) statutory. The accompanying statutory guidance came into force in September 2020.
The reform was designed to ensure that all young people receive consistent, age-appropriate information about healthy relationships, consent, online safety, and sexual health — topics previously delivered very unevenly across schools. Ofsted now inspects RSE as part of its assessment of a school's personal development provision.
What topics does RSE cover at secondary school?
Secondary school RSE covers a broad range of content. The statutory guidance specifies what must be taught; schools have flexibility in how they teach it and at what year group. Core topics include:
| Area | What pupils learn |
|---|---|
| Families and relationships | Different types of families, healthy and unhealthy relationships, consent and respect |
| Online safety and harms | Sharing images, online harassment, the permanence of digital content, pornography |
| Sex education | Human reproduction, contraception, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pregnancy |
| Physical health | Puberty, body image, the relationship between physical health and mental wellbeing |
| Mental wellbeing | Managing emotions, seeking help, the impact of relationships on mental health |
| Safe relationships | Recognising coercive control, how to seek help, domestic abuse |
| LGBTQ+ content | Respectful understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender identities |
Schools must also cover content about the law — for example, the legal age of consent and what constitutes illegal behaviour online.
What is the difference between RSE and sex education?
RSE is the broader umbrella. Sex education (the biological and health aspects of sex, contraception, and sexually transmitted infections) is one component of RSE, alongside the relationships content (healthy and unhealthy relationships, consent, types of families, online safety). Parents sometimes use "sex education" to mean all of RSE, but the statutory framework distinguishes between them — this matters for withdrawal rights (see below).
Can parents withdraw their child from RSE?
This is the question parents most commonly ask, and the answer has an important nuance.
Parents have the right to withdraw their child from the sex education components of RSE — that is, the parts covering contraception, STIs, and the biological aspects of sexual relationships — but not from the relationships content or the health education content. These remain compulsory.
The right to withdraw applies until the pupil is within three months of their 16th birthday. At that point, the pupil themselves can choose to attend RSE even if their parents have previously withdrawn them.
If you wish to withdraw your child from sex education, you must make a written request to the headteacher. The school will then grant the withdrawal, except in exceptional circumstances. The school must also offer an alternative activity — students cannot simply be sent to sit in a corridor.
How can parents find out what their school teaches?
All schools in England must have a written RSE policy, which they must publish on their website and make available to parents on request. The policy should describe what is taught, at what year group, and how the content is delivered. If you cannot find the policy on the school's website, contact the school office directly.
Parents are entitled to review any RSE materials the school uses — textbooks, worksheets, videos — before they are used with students. Schools are required to consult parents when developing or significantly revising the RSE policy. If your school has recently updated its policy, there should have been an opportunity for parental engagement.
How is RSE assessed?
RSE is not assessed through formal examinations or graded coursework. It is usually delivered through PSHE lessons, tutor time, or themed days. Ofsted inspectors consider the quality of RSE provision as part of their judgement on personal development — how well the school prepares pupils for life beyond school. Schools with weak RSE provision may receive criticism in an inspection report.
Frequently asked questions
Is RSE the same as PSHE?
No, though they overlap. PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) is a broader curriculum area that includes RSE but also covers financial education, careers, mental health, drugs and alcohol, and a range of other topics. RSE has its own statutory status since 2020 and must be taught — parts of PSHE remain non-statutory, meaning schools choose whether and how to teach them. Many schools deliver RSE within their PSHE lessons for simplicity.
Do faith schools have to teach RSE?
Yes, faith schools must teach RSE under the same statutory requirements as all other maintained schools in England. However, faith schools may teach certain aspects of RSE — particularly topics related to marriage, family structures, and some sexual health content — in a manner that reflects the school's religious character, provided the overall teaching is still balanced and includes all the statutory content. A faith school cannot simply omit topics it disagrees with.
What should I do if I am concerned about what my child has been taught in RSE?
Speak to the form tutor or head of year first to understand what was actually covered and in what context. If you have a concern about the specific content — for example, that something was presented inaccurately or was inappropriate for the age group — you can raise this formally through the school's complaints procedure. If the school does not resolve the concern, the matter can be referred to the Regional Director (formerly Regional Schools Commissioner) for academies, or to the local authority for maintained schools. Ofsted can also receive complaints about the content of statutory subjects.
What resources can parents use to discuss RSE topics with their child at home?
Many parents find it helpful to align home conversations with what the school is covering — the school's RSE policy will give you a broad overview by year group. The NHS website has age-appropriate information on sexual health. The NSPCC provides resources for talking to children about keeping themselves safe online and in relationships. If your child has questions you find difficult to answer, a school counsellor or the form tutor can also be a starting point.
For pastoral and academic support at secondary school, including help preparing for sensitive topics, visit aitutors.me.