Sex and Relationship Education Guidance

Effective sex and relationship education is essential if young people are to make responsible and well informed decisions about their lives. It should not be delivered in isolation.

There are many excellent examples where schools have established clear sex education policies in consultation with parents, governors and the wider community, and where they are delivering effective programmes. But there is also much uncertainty about what sex and relationship education is and how it should be taught.

This guidance aims to address those areas of uncertainty, and guide schools and teachers on some of the sensitive issues schools may have to tackle when teaching sex and relationship education. It also outlines some practical strategies for teaching and address some of the issues for schools concerning confidentiality.