RSE (Relationship & Sex Education) is compulsory in secondary schools. The Secretary Of State has described how “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.”

The Department For Education has updated the statutory guidance for schools to be implemented for September 2026. A copy of the full guidance can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6970e7e67e827090d02d42e0/Relationships_education_relationships_and_sex_education__RSE__and_health_education__for_intro_1_September_2026_.pdf  

With regard to how this guidance impacts our students at UVHS, Secondary Schools need to implement both:

• Relationships & Sex Education 

• Health & Wellbeing 

Relationships & Sex Education is age-appropriate, delivered from Year 7 – Year 13 at UVHS, and is split into 5 sections:

• Families
• Respectful Relationships Including Friendships
• Online Safety & Awareness 
• Being Safe
• Intimate & Sexual Relationships, Including Sexual Health

Secondary school also have to deliver the following Health & Wellbeing topics. The content has to further develop our learners' knowledge they have already gained from primary school, but also educate them on: 

1. Mental Wellbeing 

2. Wellbeing Online  

3. Physical Health & Fitness 

4. Healthy Eating  

5. Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco & Vaping 

6. Health Protection &Prevention & Understanding The Healthcare System 

7. Personal Safety 

8. Basic First Aid  

9. Developing Bodies 

Curriculum Construction:

Our program of study allows for staff to deliver a carefully devised curriculum in a safe space whilst allowing for necessary discussion and consolidation activities to do with any of the topics listed above. 

Given the breadth of content which Personal Development covers, and it’s importance as a subject as part of a rounded curriculum, it is delivered either by Form Tutors who know their pupils best, or by a focussed team of Personal Development Teachers.  

Our curriculum for KS3 and KS4 Personal Development, including statutory RSE, has been devised using the following national bodies: 

• Brook Learn,  

• The PSHE Association and  

• The Sex Education Forum 

National Body	Why We Use Them Here At UVHS
Brook Learn	Brook is the only national charity to offer both clinical sexual health services, as well as education and wellbeing for young people and training and support for educators.
The PSHE Association	The PSHE Association is the official body for PSHE education, including statutory relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) for the UK.
The Sex Education Forum	The Sex Education Forum works with schools to provide transparent materials which are accessible to all students including those with SEND needs.

We also understand the importance of focussed charities and groups to ensure accurate, up to date information. The link below shows some of the providers we use alongside the three platforms above: Y7-11 Content Sources.pdf 

RSE content is delivered throughout Personal Development and can be identified on the green bullet points of the Y7-Y11 Learning Journeys. Students have copies of these in school, but they can also be viewed here: Learning Journeys Y7-Y11.pdf 

You are also welcome to view our combing document off where the new statutory RSE content is delivered across KS3 and KS4 here: RSE Guidance Combing For September 2026.pdf

Why is RSE so important?

The Sex Education Forum describes RSE as: “Relationships and sex education (RSE) is learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health. It should equip children and young people with the information, skills and positive values to have safe, fulfilling relationships, to enjoy their sexuality and to take responsibility for their sexual health and well-being.”

It is important to us as a school that we safeguard our pupils in relation to topics such as consent and coercion. They need to have clear, factual information about the law relating to, for example, rights to access sexual health services, having images and content removed online and alcohol and drugs etc in line with Keeping Children Safe In Education.

There will always be an overlap between RSE and other subjects in school. For example, students in Science will also learn about sexually transmitted infections and their prevention using different methods of contraception. However, thy will also have time to consolidate that learning in their Personal Development time in a smaller class setting.

If we look back to previous generations, we can be critical of what wasn’t taught or discussed, and RSE education has developed beyond recognition since first considered in schools in the 1960’s / 1970’s; and we have a duty of care to ensure we keep abreast of new and emerging threats to student health and wellbeing.

Ultimately, our aim at Ulverston Victoria High School is to have an RSE curriculum which allows students to safely ask questions and discuss topics relevant to them as young adults in an environment free of negativity and taboo.