Government announces RSHE review
Fiona Simpson
Friday, March 31, 2023
A review of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) will be carried out by the end of the year, the Department for Education has announced.
The review comes following concerns raised by Conservative MPs that some pupils are being taught “age-inappropriate, extreme, sexualising and inaccurate” content in schools.
However, education unions criticised calls for a review as “politically motivated”.
The government says the review, announced today (31 March) “is needed to make sure all children are protected from inappropriate content in all cases, even if many schools already teach RSHE and engage parents in a positive way”.
An independent panel will be appointed over the next few weeks to oversee the review and “will advise on how to put in place clear safeguards to stop pupils from being taught contested and potentially damaging concepts, including introducing age ratings setting out what is appropriate to be taught at what age, to prevent children being taught concepts they are too young to understand”, according to the DfE.
The panel will work with Ofsted to understand what material is currently used in the classroom and consider what improvements might need to be made.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “I am deeply concerned about reports of inappropriate lessons being taught in schools.
“This urgent review will get to the heart of how RSHE is currently taught and should be taught in the future. This will leave no room for any disturbing content, restore parents' confidence, and make sure children are even better protected."
I am deeply concerned about reports of inappropriate RSHE lessons. Our urgent review will look at how the subject should be taught, protecting children and reassuring parents.
— Gillian Keegan MP (@GillianKeegan) March 31, 2023
I have also written to schools to remind them of their duty to show parents materials used in lessons. pic.twitter.com/eKNeR5F8yR
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it is “important to understand” the review was already planned before concerns on the content of RSHE were raised in parliament.
However, he added that: “It is very disappointing to see Gillian Keegan’s implicit criticism of schools when she says the review will restore the confidence of parents.
“In fact, the vast majority of schools teach this subject cautiously, sensitively and in an age-appropriate manner. Claims made about inappropriate teaching are overblown, sweeping and supported by evidence which is flimsy at best.”
Barton criticised government support for schools in teaching the subject, saying “very little training” had been made available.
“As ever, government expects to deliver major policies on the cheap, and then is quick to criticise schools,” Barton said.
As part of the announcement, Keegan has written to schools highlighting a legal duty, introduced in September 2021, to publish a relationships or a relationships and sex education policy and consult parents on it.
She further announced that Oak National Academy will develop “compliant resources” to supplement what is already available for schools to teach RSHE.