Sex Relationships Education for Primary Schools

Children need to make informed decisions about their health, well-being, and relationships to keep themselves safe and healthy. Sex and relationships education in primary schools should be taught in an age-appropriate manner, providing students with factual information.

In primary school settings, children are taught about health and relationships through mandatory RSE lessons. While sex education is not compulsory in primary schools, the Department for Education encourages schools to include it in a “programme tailored to the age and physical and emotional maturity of the pupils.”

What is Relationships and Sex Education?

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in the UK teaches students about relationships, sex and growing up, equipping students to make healthy decisions about their health, wellbeing and bodies.

Sex education is only mandatory for secondary school students (ages 11-16), but age-appropriate aspects of sex education can be integrated into relationships and health education in primary schools.

RSE equips children with the information and skills they need to establish safe and positive relationships with others and with themselves.

In primary schools, the emphasis of relationships education is on providing children with the foundational knowledge to form healthy relationships with family and friends, both in the real world and online.

RSE can be taught as part of a broader PSHE curriculum, and many schools choose this approach to better prepare students for life in the modern world. However, all schools are required to teach the mandatory RSE topics as outlined in the 2020 government guidance.

What Age is RSE Taught?

The government guidance mandates that RSE be taught in schools from ages 3 to 16. This means that primary schools have a responsibility to introduce RSE to children from the foundation level and continue to build on these key topics through to Year 6.

In secondary school, sex education should be integrated into the relationships and health curriculum. This includes providing students with knowledge about intimate relationships and sex, as well as how to maintain positive and healthy sexual relationships.

PSHE schemes of work, such as those provided by Muse Wellbeing, cover all statutory RSE topics. Muse Wellbeing offers PSHE lessons for primary schools from Years 1-6. The scheme of work is designed to be progressive, allowing children to build on their knowledge throughout their primary education, receiving age-appropriate sex and relationships education alongside other well-being topics. Additionally, differentiated versions of lessons and resources are available to accommodate varying abilities and emotional development levels within the classroom.

Is Sex and Relationship Education Compulsory?

RSE has been a mandatory part of the curriculum since 2020. All children in primary school must attend lessons on relationships and health – including lessons on puberty. However, parents retain the right to request that their child be withdrawn from sex education. 

RSE became compulsory following a government review focused on safeguarding. The review found that PSHE had a positive impact on students’ physical and mental well-being. The mandatory RSE topics are designed to keep children safe and provide them with better opportunities to succeed in life.

Can Children Be Withdrawn From RSE Lessons?

Parents should be granted access to all the materials used in RSE lessons. Schools must share the materials with parents and provide an opportunity where parents can have questions answered or raise concerns about the curriculum. However, even if a parent disputes the content of relationships and health education, there is no right to withdraw from these topics.

A child can be withdrawn from sex education up until three terms before they turn 16, at which point the child has the right to decide whether to participate in sex education.

Puberty is often a sensitive topic within RSE, but it falls under health education, meaning all children must participate in lessons on puberty, with no right of withdrawal. The government also recommends that these lessons take place before a child experiences puberty, so they are typically taught at the beginning of KS2 (Years 3 or 4).

Should Schools Include Discussions About LGTBQ+ Topics?

As part of mandatory relationship education, the government strongly encourages schools to teach about different types of families, including those with same-sex parents. It is important for children to recognize that families come in various forms, so while most LGBTQ+ content is introduced in secondary education, primary schools do address the topic of diverse families.

The Muse Wellbeing curriculum aligns with government guidelines and includes lessons on diverse families, including those with same-sex parents, from Years 1-6 within the relationships category.

What is the Difference Between PSHE and RSE?

PSHE (Personal, Social, and Health Education) is the broader curriculum through which RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) content is delivered. While it is mandatory to teach RSE, schools are not required to offer a full PSHE curriculum.

However, many schools opt to provide a comprehensive PSHE curriculum due to its proven effectiveness in enhancing physical and mental health and well-being, as well as its role in preparing students for life in the modern world.

Muse Wellbeing offers a full PSHE curriculum to schools with everything needed to deliver fun and engaging PSHE lessons that will nurture the growth of resilient and caring students. Alongside the mandatory sex and relationships education, Muse also offers lessons on health, digital citizenship and economic well-being as well as other subjects within the PSHE spectrum. 

Final Thoughts: Teaching Sex Relationships Education in Primary Schools

To keep children safe and provide them with the knowledge to recognize when something isn’t right, sex and relationships education in primary schools is crucial for safeguarding young people.

Planning and delivering a comprehensive PSHE curriculum that exceeds the 2020 DfE guidelines for mandatory RSE can be challenging for schools. However, the importance of RSE and PSHE for student health and well-being cannot be overlooked. This is where a platform like Muse Wellbeing can be invaluable. A Muse subscription offers schools access to 216 lessons for Years 1-6, complete with resources and lesson guides, giving teachers the time and confidence to deliver engaging PSHE lessons that truly benefit their students.