(The Secretary of State for
Education): Today, following the successful passage
of the regulations for the introduction of Relationships
Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health
Education, Government has published the final accompanying
statutory guidance.
At the heart of preparing children for life in modern Britain is
making sure that they understand the world they are growing up
in. It is 19 years since the Sex and Relationships guidance was
last updated. For children and young people, the challenges that
they face today are very different. Children are encountering a
more interconnected and interdependent world, and this has
changed significantly how they build relationships, interact with
their peers and manage their own mental and physical wellbeing.
This presents both opportunities and risks, as children have
greater exposure to information, content and people that can and
do cause harm. There is little distinction for many young people
between their lives online and off, and that is why we believe
now more than ever, that we need to provide young people with the
knowledge they need in every context to lead safe, happy and
healthy lives.
We have therefore brought forward measures requiring the
introduction of compulsory Relationships Education for all pupils
in primary schools, compulsory Relationships and Sex Education
for all pupils in secondary schools, and compulsory Health
Education for all pupils in state-funded schools from September
2020.
With cross-party support, the regulations for these subjects were
approved by both Houses of Parliament and were made by the
Secretary of State on 9th May. The statutory
guidance published today sets out the legal duties with which
schools must comply, the required core teaching content for the
subjects, and guidance on how the content should be delivered in
an age appropriate way.
We will be setting out further details on how we will support
schools to introduce the new subjects in September 2020. This
will include working closely with the many schools who are
choosing to begin teaching the subjects from September 2019, so
that we can support their journey, learn lessons and share good
practice.
We will also be convening a new working group, who will provide
insight into how the new guidance is working in practice. This
group, with representatives from teaching unions, sector experts,
faith and minority groups, parents and young people, will provide
us with evidence and feedback to improve the delivery of these
subjects.
We believe that these subjects are an historic step in education
that will help equip children and young people with the knowledge
and support they need to form healthy relationships, lead healthy
lives and be happy and safe in the world today.
