Sexual health: new KS5/Post-16 lessons & marking sexual health week 2025

The theme of this year's sexual health week (15th – 21st September) is ‘chronically online’, inviting us to reflect on how the online world affects young people’s views on sexual health and relationships.

This is timely, given concerns about STI prevalence, particularly for the 15-24 year old age group, and the myths about sexual health regularly perpetuated on social media.

Yet social media is where half of young people across the UK get their information about contraception, and a third consider this information to be trustworthy.

Robust PSHE education is a crucial tool against such misconceptions in two key ways:

• Raising awareness about the facts surrounding STIs, contraception and sexual health choices
• Teaching young people how to be critical consumers of health information, especially when encountered online.

And PSHE teachers are now better supported to address this education through updates to the statutory RSHE guidance, which now states that by the end of secondary school, students must learn:

“The facts about the full range of contraceptive choices, efficacy and options available, including male and female condoms, and signposting towards medically accurate online information about sexual and reproductive health to support contraceptive decision making.”
(Intimate and sexual relationships, including sexual health 6)

“How to counter misinformation, including signposting towards medically accurate information and further advice, and where to access confidential sexual and reproductive health advice and treatment.”
(Intimate and sexual relationships, including sexual health 12)

And we’re here to support you to get this education right in your school. We have a range of quality assured lesson plans focusing on sexual health, developed in collaboration with organisations such as Medway Public Health Directorate, You before two and Canesten.

And education on this topic doesn’t need to stop at the end of Year 11. Young people most need this vital learning when they are developing their first intimate relationships, which — for most — happens after the age of 16.

We’ve developed brand new lessons exploring sexual health for key stage 5/post-16 students — to help you carry on the conversation with young people when they need it most.

We know these conversations can sometimes feel personal, embarrassing or overwhelming, for both you and your students. And we want every teacher to go into the classroom feeling equipped with the latest research, information and pedagogy. That’s why we have also created an on-demand training course, Teaching sexual health and contraception, to give you the knowledge and confidence boost you need!