Today’s children and young people are growing up in an increasingly complex world and living their lives seamlessly on and offline. This presents many positive and exciting opportunities, but also challenges and risks. In this environment, children and young people need to know how to be safe and healthy, and how to manage their academic, personal and social lives in a positive way.
This is why the government has made Relationships Education compulsory in all primary schools and Relationships and Sex Education compulsory in all secondary schools. In addition, Health Education is compulsory in all state-funded schools.
The new curriculum will be compulsory from September 2020.
The RSHE lead is Ms Isted.
RSHE will be delivered as outlined in the policy following parental consultation.
RHSE Curriculum Overviews
Recommended Reading
There are lots of great books out there to help families learn more about and cope with children's mental and physical health, family situations, growing up and puberty. Here are a few that we recommend:
Please see lots of useful documents to help with health matters at home from dietary advice to oral health to period products and sun care.
Family Health Support Resources
Withdrawal from lessons
Relationships and health education are statutory for all primary and secondary pupils and parents do not have the right to withdraw their child from the subjects. As sex education is not statutory at primary level (other than what must be taught as part of the science curriculum), parents have the right to request to withdraw their child from all or part of the sex education curriculum.
The Headteacher will:
- Automatically grant withdrawal requests but will discuss the request with the parent and, if appropriate, their child, to ensure that their wishes are understood and to clarify the nature and purpose of the curriculum;
- Discuss with the parent, the benefits or receiving this important education and any adverse effects that withdrawal may have on the pupil – this could include, for example, social and emotional effects of being excluded;
- Grant a parent’s request to withdraw their child from sex education, other than the content that must be taught as part of the science curriculum;
- Ensure that the pupil receives appropriate alternative education where a pupil is withdrawn from sex education.
Requests to withdraw a child from sex education should be made in writing to the Headteacher. All discussions with parents will be documented. These records will be kept securely in the school office in line with the Trust’s Retention and Management of Records Policy. The parent will be informed in writing of the Headteacher’s decision.
Policy Consultation
Following parental consultation, the RSHE Policy was amended and approved by Trustees with reference to comments received.
A final version is available on the Aquinas website.
