Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what oversight and accountability arrangements are in place to regulate the content of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) in schools.

Relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) is subject to statutory guidance, which schools must have regard to when developing and delivering their curriculum. Governing bodies, academy trusts and school proprietors are responsible for ensuring that RSHE is taught in accordance with legal requirements and the statutory guidance, including consultation with parents. Ofsted inspects schools’ safeguarding arrangements and wider personal development, which includes evaluating whether pupils receive a comprehensive and age-appropriate RSHE curriculum.

All schools must have an up-to-date written policy for relationships education or, where they teach sex education, for relationships and sex education (RSE). Statutory RSHE guidance requires schools to consult parents on their RSHE policy and provide examples of the resources they plan to use. The department is clear that parents should be able to view curriculum materials on request, and schools should not enter into arrangements that prevent them from sharing RSHE resources with parents.