The DfE has launched updated statutory RSHE (relationships, sex and health education) guidance today.
This replaces the current, 2019 guidance, though schools will have until September 2026 to adapt their curriculum to reflect these updated requirements. You can, however, start following the new guidance sooner if you wish to and are properly prepared. And we'll have all the training, guidance and resources you need to get it right — including new Autumn term online and face-to-face training courses now open for booking (see below).
We’re currently reviewing the new guidance and will provide a more thorough analysis but in the meantime, here are a few key differences to the requirements currently in force:
- The 2025 guidance places greater emphasis on misogyny, violence against women and girls and related factors, including the negative impact of pornography, in line with government priorities and widespread safeguarding concerns about such issues. (Our new guide to misogyny and the manosphere will support teachers to address the impact of toxic online influence in the classroom.)
- Aspects of personal safety have now been included for the first time, including a focus on how to recognise risk and keep safe around roads, railways, including level crossings, and water, including the water safety code, as well as personal safety in public spaces.
- There is recognition of new safeguarding risks caused by rapid technological developments in recent years, with requirements now covering topics from AI deepfakes to toxic online influencers and subcultures.
- There is additional emphasis on supporting mental health and specific mention of areas such as grief and loss (see our recent ‘Change, loss and grief’ lessons for support with this) and loneliness.
- The guidance is clear that ‘Schools should be sensitive to pupils’ circumstances, recognising that families of many forms provide a nurturing environment for children, and can include single parent families, same-sex parents, families headed by grandparents, young carers, kinship carers, adoptive parents and foster parents/carers.’
- There is clear recognition of the importance of teacher expertise and agency – and of course this is critical for tailoring PSHE/RSHE appropriately and choosing materials and guidance wisely.
- The importance of clear communications with parents/carers is reiterated, and in line with our own guidance and provision of parent/carer copies of all our RSHE resources.
- References to managing difficult questions, and establishing safe learning environments, are welcome — and this forms a key part of our CPD and guidance.
- We are happy to see a recognition of financial exploitation and its impact on safeguarding, and that this will encourage schools to continue covering personal financial education within the context of their planned PSHE/RSHE programmes. Our recently published ‘Online Financial Harms’ lessons will support schools to address this area.
- We also welcome sections that promote best practice and 'skilled delivery' such as using distancing techniques and creating safe learning environments that aim to 'support and not to alarm pupils' (use of shock tactics is never advisable in the PSHE classroom).
Jonathan Baggaley, PSHE Association Chief Executive said:
“RSHE has never been more important and it’s vital that schools are supported to respond to the changing landscape of children’s lives. The 2025 guidance seems to be a real step forward and we are hopeful that it will help schools to build on improvements to protective, preventative PSHE education that we’ve seen since statutory RSHE was introduced in 2020. There is, for example, increased emphasis on safeguarding content that reflects the complexity and reality of the online world – from financial exploitation to the dangers of pornography and AI deepfakes – alongside greater scope for supporting children’s mental health and personal safety. We are also pleased to see recognition of the value of teacher expertise and agency.
We will now be busy creating guidance, training and resources to support our members to implement these requirements with confidence.”
How will we help members prepare?
Supporting you to implement these changes is our priority, and our Subject Specialist team is uniquely placed to carry out a deep analysis of the updated requirements and their implications for you, and your school.
This will inform the support we offer our members this autumn, so we’ll be busy in the meantime updating our guidance, lesson plans and designing new CPD on implementing the changes effectively.
Autumn training courses
RSHE: Successfully implementing the new 2025 statutory requirements (primary/secondary)
We will offer this training as both online and face-to-face live CPD courses that provide an overview of all changes and ideas for implementation.
The face-to-face course will go into more depth, with more time to answer specific questions and an opportunity to network and meet likeminded PSHE professionals.
The courses will run on the following dates and bookings are open to allow you to secure a place:
- Online courses on 18th September (secondary) and 23rd September (primary), 09:30am-12:30pm
- Face-to-face courses on 5th November for both primary and secondary schools, 10am-4pm