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New RSHE guidance from September 2026: what parents need to know

A calm guide to the DfE’s updated RSHE guidance for schools in England, including what changes, what parents can ask schools to share, and where withdrawal rights do and do not apply.

What parents can askWithdrawal rules

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Current answer

Quick answer: what the 2026 RSHE guidance means

Bottom line: the Department for Education published revised statutory guidance in July 2025 for Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), and Health Education. The revised guidance is for schools in England to prepare for introduction on 1 September 2026. GOV.UK also retains the existing guidance for teaching until 31 August 2026.

“for reference to help schools prepare for introduction on 1 September 2026” — GOV.UK

“Schools must have regard to the guidance” — GOV.UK

For parents, the practical point is that schools should be reviewing their policy, curriculum materials, external-provider arrangements and communication with families before the 2026 date. The guidance does not mean every child receives every sensitive topic at once; schools still need to teach in an age- and stage-appropriate way.

Key terms parents will see

The terminology can be confusing because families often use RSHE as a shorthand, while the DfE document names specific subject areas.

RSHE

Relationships, Sex and Health Education: a parent-facing shorthand for the subjects covered by the DfE guidance.

Relationships Education

The compulsory relationships subject for pupils receiving primary education in England. It focuses on positive relationships, family and friendships, respect, boundaries, privacy, online safety, reporting concerns and getting help.

RSE

Relationships and Sex Education. This is compulsory for pupils receiving secondary education and builds on primary Relationships Education, including healthy intimate relationships, consent, sexual health, online and media issues, safety and the law.

Health Education

The health and wellbeing part of the guidance, including physical health, mental wellbeing, puberty, menstruation, online wellbeing, first aid and prevention topics. The statutory Health Education requirement is phrased differently for independent schools; PSHE remains compulsory in independent schools.

PSHE

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education. Many schools deliver RSHE within a wider PSHE programme.

Statutory guidance

DfE guidance issued under education legislation. Schools must have regard to it and need good reasons if they depart from guidance that says they should or should not do something.

Right to withdraw

A parent’s right to request that their child is withdrawn from some or all sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE. It does not cover Relationships Education, Health Education or science curriculum topics.

Curriculum materials

Resources used to teach RSHE, such as lesson plans, worksheets, slides, videos or provider materials.

Age and stage appropriate

Teaching that is relevant, accessible and suitable for pupils’ age, maturity, developmental stage and local context, while still covering the required content over time.

Safeguarding

The school’s duties and procedures for protecting children and responding when staff have concerns about a pupil’s welfare or safety.

What will primary and secondary schools teach?

The new guidance does not mean every sensitive topic is taught in the same way at the same age. Schools are expected to sequence teaching so it is suitable for pupils’ age, maturity, needs and local context. The health-education duty is different for independent schools, which continue to make provision for the health education element of PSHE.

“Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools” — Department for Education

“support and not to alarm pupils” — Department for Education

A parent-friendly comparison of primary and secondary RSHE teaching under the DfE guidance for England.

School stageCompulsory subjectsExamples of contentWhat parents often ask

Primary education

Relationships Education is compulsory for pupils receiving primary education. Health Education is compulsory in all schools except independent schools; independent schools continue to make provision for the health education element of PSHE. Primary sex education beyond the science curriculum is not compulsory, though DfE recommends teaching it in Years 5 and/or 6 in line with science content about conception and birth.

Positive relationships, family and friendship, kindness and respect, boundaries, privacy, body autonomy, online safety, reporting worries, getting help, puberty and wellbeing. Teaching about safety should make clear that abuse is never the child’s fault.

Ask how the school explains relationships, online safety, puberty and any sex education beyond science; when topics are taught; and how parents are consulted.

Secondary education

RSE is compulsory for pupils receiving secondary education. Health Education is compulsory in all schools except independent schools; independent schools continue to make provision for the health education element of PSHE.

Healthy relationships, consent, resisting pressure, sexual health, STIs, pregnancy prevention, coercion, harassment, sexual violence, domestic abuse, FGM, online sharing risks, AI-generated imagery, deepfakes, pornography and media literacy, misogyny, mental wellbeing and support.

Ask how sensitive content is introduced, how pupils are supported, how questions are handled, and where pupils can get help after a lesson.

What parents can ask the school

Parents can ask for clear information. DfE says schools should make policy and materials accessible, respond positively to requests and avoid provider contracts that stop parents viewing materials.

“view all curriculum materials used to teach RSHE on request” — Department for Education

“Parents are not able to veto curriculum content” — Department for Education

  • The school policy

    Ask for the current Relationships Education or RSE policy, and whether the school is reviewing it for the September 2026 guidance.

  • Timing and sequencing

    Ask when topics are usually taught in your child’s year group and how the school decides what is age and stage appropriate.

  • Lesson materials

    Ask how to view representative resources and the materials used in lessons, including slides, worksheets, videos or third-party materials.

  • External providers

    Ask whether outside organisations help deliver any lessons, what they cover and how the school checks their resources.

  • SEND accessibility

    Ask how teaching is adapted for pupils with SEND, developmental differences or particular communication needs.

  • Sensitive questions

    Ask how pupils can raise worries, what support is available after lessons and how disclosures are handled.

  • Withdrawal from sex education

    Ask for the school’s process for requests relating to sex education, and which lessons are not covered by withdrawal rights.

  • The best contact person

    Ask whether questions should go to the class teacher, head of year, PSHE/RSHE lead, senior leader or safeguarding lead.

What parents can and cannot withdraw from

Withdrawal rights are narrower than many summaries suggest. The right is about sex education, not RSHE as a whole. It does not cover Relationships Education, Health Education or science curriculum topics, including puberty or sexual reproduction taught in science.

“Parents have the right to request that their child be withdrawn” — Department for Education

“Parents do not have the right to withdraw their pupils from relationships and health education” — Department for Education

A comparison of withdrawal rights for sex education, relationships education, health education and science curriculum topics.

AreaWhat parents can doImportant limit

Primary sex education beyond the science curriculum

Parents can request withdrawal. Primary headteachers must automatically grant withdrawal from this sex education.

This does not include science curriculum content. Primary schools should consult parents if they teach sex education beyond science.

Sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE in secondary school

Parents can request withdrawal from some or all sex education.

A headteacher can refuse only in exceptional circumstances, such as a safeguarding concern or specific pupil vulnerability. From three terms before turning 16, the pupil can choose to receive sex education.

Relationships Education

Parents can ask questions, view policy and materials, and take part in consultation.

Parents do not have the right to withdraw pupils from Relationships Education.

Health Education

Parents can ask how topics such as puberty, mental wellbeing and online wellbeing are taught.

Parents do not have the right to withdraw pupils from Health Education.

National Curriculum science content

Parents can ask what is covered and when.

There is no right to withdraw from science topics, including puberty or sexual reproduction where these are part of the science curriculum.

A message you can adapt

Suggested message to ask for RSHE information

When this applies

You want to understand the school’s RSHE or RSE policy, timing and lesson materials before or during the transition to the September 2026 guidance.

Suggested wording

Hello, I’m trying to understand how the school is preparing for the updated RSHE guidance from September 2026. Please could you share the current RSHE/RSE policy, the topics planned for my child’s year group, when they are usually taught, and how I can view the curriculum materials used in lessons? I would also be grateful to know who teaches these lessons, whether any external providers are involved, and who I should contact if I have questions about age-appropriateness, SEND accessibility or support for my child. Thank you.

Why this helps

It asks for information the DfE expects schools to explain, while keeping the tone practical and collaborative.

Support ladder

If you are worried about age-appropriateness or support

A specific, evidence-led question is usually more useful than a general objection to RSHE. Start with the policy and materials, then explain the exact worry.

  • At home

    Read the policy first: Check the school’s Relationships Education or RSE policy, including the subject content, timing, withdrawal information and how parents can view materials.

  • At school

    Ask to view the materials: Ask to see the lesson resources used for your child’s year group, including any third-party materials.

  • SENCO or specialist

    Name the specific concern: Explain whether the concern is age-appropriateness, SEND access, anxiety, recent bereavement, previous exposure to online harm, bullying or another known issue.

  • Latimer tutor role

    Ask about support before and after the lesson: Ask who pupils can speak to, how questions are handled and what happens if a pupil discloses a worry.

  • When to escalate

    Use the school’s concerns process if needed: If the concern is not resolved informally, ask which school policy explains how parent concerns are considered and who will respond.

Official sources used

This article relies on official DfE and GOV.UK material for rules, dates, parent rights and curriculum scope.

  • GOV.UK: Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education

    Publication page for the current and revised guidance, including document status and update history.

    Open source

  • Department for Education: statutory guidance for introduction 1 September 2026

    Main guidance document used for parent rights, withdrawal, curriculum materials and primary/secondary content.

    Open source

  • GOV.UK: Keeping children safe in education

    Safeguarding framework context for schools and colleges in England.

    Open source

Related guidance

More guidance from this section

More guidance from this part of the Ed Centre that may help with the same decision, stage or next step.

Support and clarity

Frequently asked questions

Straight answers to the questions people ask most often.

What does RSHE stand for?

RSHE is shorthand for Relationships, Sex and Health Education. The DfE guidance itself covers Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), and Health Education.

Is the new RSHE guidance already in force?

No. The revised guidance is for schools in England to prepare for introduction on 1 September 2026. GOV.UK also retains the existing guidance for teaching until 31 August 2026.

Does the DfE RSHE guidance apply across the UK?

This article describes DfE guidance for schools in England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have separate curriculum arrangements, so the same rules and terminology should not be assumed outside England.

What is RSHE in primary schools?

Primary pupils receive Relationships Education. Health and wellbeing content is covered through Health Education in schools where that duty applies; independent schools continue to provide the health education element of PSHE. Teaching may include positive relationships, family and friendship, kindness, respect, boundaries, privacy, online safety, puberty and wellbeing. Sex education beyond science is not compulsory in primary schools, although DfE recommends teaching it in Years 5 and/or 6 where appropriate and after consulting parents.

What will secondary schools teach under RSE and Health Education?

Secondary RSE builds on primary learning and includes healthy relationships, consent, resisting pressure, sexual health, STIs, pregnancy prevention, online harms, media literacy, pornography, deepfakes, AI-related imagery, mental wellbeing and where to get support. Health Education is compulsory in all schools except independent schools; independent schools continue to provide the health education element of PSHE.

Can parents ask to see RSHE materials?

Yes. DfE says schools should show a representative sample of resources and ensure parents can view all curriculum materials used to teach RSHE on request. Parents can also ask about timing, external providers, SEND accessibility and the withdrawal process for sex education.

Can parents withdraw a child from RSHE?

Parents should not be told they can withdraw from RSHE as a whole. The right is to request withdrawal from some or all sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE. There is no right to withdraw from Relationships Education, Health Education or science curriculum content.

Can parents veto what the school teaches?

No. Parents can ask to see materials, ask questions and take part in consultation, but DfE says parents are not able to veto curriculum content. The practical step is to ask for the policy, materials and the school’s explanation of age-appropriate sequencing.

Sources and references

Sources and references