Age-appropriate PSHRE is woven through our wider curriculum – for example through the form time programme, Focus Days, science, PE, English, RE and humanities. Because of this, there are very few aspects of the new statutory guidance, which comes into force from September 2020, which are new to our curriculum.
We understand that some parents and carers may have read or heard reports about the new national PSHRE guidance. In order that you have accurate information about what your child will be learning we have provided a description below:
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Families
This covers – different types of relationships; how relationships contribute to happiness; legal rights; consent; the rights, roles and responsibilities of parenting; learning about trust in relationships and how to seek advice
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Respectful Relationships, including Friendships
This covers – positive and healthy relationships of all kinds (including online and cyber-bullying); the dangers of stereotypes; the impact of bullying and how to get help; the Equality Act 2010, including protected characteristics
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Online and Media
This covers – acceptable online behaviour and risks, including accessing and sharing material; learning about the internet and the law; understanding how internet data is used; reporting concerns and seeking advice
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Being Safe
This covers – the concepts of, and laws relating to, sexual consent, sexual exploitation, abuse, grooming, coercion, harassment, rape, domestic abuse, forced marriage, honour-based violence and FGM; how these can affect current and future relationships; how people can actively communicate and recognise consent from others, including sexual consent; how and when consent can be withdrawn (in all contexts, including online)
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Intimate and Sexual Relationships including Sexual Health
This covers – loyalty and respect in friendships and intimate relationships; impact of relationships on all aspects of health and wellbeing; consent and sexual pressure; reproduction and fertility; contraception; pregnancy; infections and treatment; where to access support and confidential advice
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Mental Well-being
This covers – how to talk about your emotions sensitively and accurately, using appropriate language; how to recognise early signs of mental well-being concerns; the benefits of physical exercise, time outdoors and community; that happiness is linked to being connected to others
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Internet Safety and Harms
This covers – how to identify and avoid harmful behaviours online; how to report and find support if you have been affected by those behaviours
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Physical Health and Fitness
This covers – the characteristics of a healthy lifestyle; maintaining a healthy weight; the links between an inactive lifestyle and ill health; the science relating to blood, organ and stem cell donation
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Healthy Eating
This covers – how to maintain healthy eating; the links between a poor diet and health risks
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Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
This covers – the facts about legal drugs, illegal drugs and alcohol and their associated risks (legal, physical and psychological); the facts about the harmful risks of smoking tobacco
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Health and Prevention
This covers – personal hygiene; dental health; self-examination and screening; immunisations; the importance of a good night’s sleep
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Basic First Aid
This covers – how to treat basic common injuries; life-saving skills, including administering CPR; the purpose of defibrillators; the changing adolescent body and puberty, including menstrual well-being
Further Information
Please follow this link to the full, current version of the draft guidance from the Department for Education, published in February 2019.
The Department for Education has explained some of the common misconceptions around the new RSE curriculum on their website – there are links to versions in Urdu, Arabic and Somali at the bottom of the webpage too.
