Relationships education, relationships and sex education, and health education

Overview

We are seeking views on the draft regulations, statutory guidance, and regulatory impact assessment relating to Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education.

Please read the related consultation documents below that explains the rationale for the government's approach to Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education.

Why your views matter

The Children and Social Work Act 2017 placed a duty on the Secretary of State for Education to make the new subjects of Relationships Education at primary and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) at secondary compulsory through regulations. The Act also provides a power for the Secretary of State to make Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE), or elements of the subject, mandatory in all schools. The department has engaged thoroughly with a wide range of interested organisations and conducted a call for evidence on the content of the subjects, and the status of PSHE. 

The findings gathered from the process have informed the drafting of the regulations, statutory guidance and regulatory impact assessment, on which the department is now consulting. This includes the department’s decision to make Health Education compulsory, not all of PSHE.

This consultation asks for views on the draft regulations and statutory guidance relating to Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education, and whether the statutory guidance provides sufficient information and support to schools in teaching the subjects. The consultation also asks for views on the regulatory impact assessment relating to the subjects. The responses to this consultation will help the department finalise the draft regulations and statutory guidance before the regulations are put before Parliament and the guidance finally published.

What happens next

The work to consider the draft statutory guidance and regulations will follow from the assessment of the consultation responses. Following consultation, we expect regulations will be laid in the House, alongside final draft guidance, allowing for a full and considered debate in the first half/quarter of 2019. The final statutory guidance will be published once the regulations have been passed.