A new chapter for PSHE education: Leading the way

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We are standing at the beginning of a new chapter for PSHE education, shaped by the DfE’s 2025 updated statutory guidance for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education (RSHE).

This isn’t just a curriculum update. It’s a paradigm shift in how the health, wellbeing, safety and development of every child is valued.

You are the pioneers

The DfE’s new accompanying Delivery and teaching strategies guidance rightly recognises the value of you leading PSHE in school and needing time to do so:

“Schools which demonstrate effective practice often ensure clear responsibility…by a senior teacher in leadership position with dedicated time to lead...”.

And as PSHE leads, your vision and leadership are needed now more than ever!

You and your team are creating emotionally safe spaces where you’re empowering children and young people to develop morally, socially, mentally and physically.

The new RSHE guidance provides an updated framework and content to further steer you with this — but it’s your passion, creativity, and understanding of your pupils’ needs that will make this content relevant and meaningful. And we’re here to support you with the process of identifying and embedding changes.

Shaping future provision with intention

So, where to begin?

This academic year is the time to evaluate, update, and enhance your provision, ready for implementation by 1^st September 2026.

Here are our recommendations:

Get to know the updated 2025 RSHE statutory guidance. It contains both new and familiar content.
Watch these useful videos as a starting point: RSHE guidance 2025: What you need to know; The new statutory RSHE guidance: what’s changed and what does this mean for primary schools?.
Work closely with colleagues to evaluate and audit current provision, ensuring ‘…subjects complement and do not duplicate content covered in national curriculum subjects…look for opportunities…to reinforce concepts introduced in RSHE…’.
To help with this, use our recently updated Curriculum audit spreadsheets.
Engage with your school community.
Take a look at: Gathering pupils' views lesson plans; Engaging with parents and governors guides; pupil questionnaires and teacher surveys.
Identify your pupils’ needs, as: 'it is ultimately the school’s responsibility to ensure resources and teaching materials are appropriate for the age and maturity of pupils, are accessible for all pupils, including those with SEND, fit with their planned programme and policy, and are sensitive to pupils’ needs'.
Update your curriculum using trusted supporting documents. Watch this space for our updated Programme of Study and curriculum planning tools! Ensure you’ve checked that any ‘external resources are accurate, age and stage appropriate and unbiased’
Learn what makes our lesson plans different and see our recently updated (September 2025) Checklist for reviewing PSHE education lesson plans.

Upcoming CPD opportunities

To feel confident and knowledgeable about leading PSHE effectively in this new era, addressing all the above and more, join us on Wednesday 1^st October 2025:

Ideal for new and experienced leads alike. You’ll have explore the key components of effective PSHE leadership, the new requirements of PSHE/RSHE, gain support with planning your next steps for creating refreshed, tailored and meaningful PSHE provision, alongside sharing valuable discussions with colleagues who share a common goal.

Hurry though, it’s booking up fast!

Making this next chapter count

Let’s embrace this next chapter together and use it to further raise the profile of PSHE education!

You are leading the most important conversations our children and young people will have in school. And the impact of your work will echo far beyond the classroom. So, thank you for the work you do — it matters, now more than ever.

And remember, we’re here to support you in any way we can.