Dear Parents/Carers,
As you may already be aware, the Department for Education has announced changes to relationships and sex education following nationwide consultation. These changes were due to come in to effect from September 2020. In light of Covid-19 and school closures, we have been granted permission to delay the implementation for a short while. By the end of next term, all schools will be required to comply with the updated requirements. The statutory guidance can be found at:
This means that we have been reviewing our RSE curriculum and policy so we can be sure our RSE provision is appropriate for our pupils.
As previously stated, the ‘sex education’ aspect is not statutory in primary school.
The statutory requirements in primary school are that we teach the Health Education curriculum and Relationship Education curriculum.
Whilst I am sure that there will be differences of opinion, we hope that consulting with you will help to inform our schools’ decisions on when and how certain content is covered, and enable us to reach a general consensus. Consequently, as part of our curriculum review we would like your views on:
• Our draft policy for Relationships and Sex Education (RSE)
• When and how certain content within this subject is covered.
What is taught, and how, is ultimately a decision for the school and consultation does not provide a parental veto on curriculum content as schools are legally required to teach the National Curriculum.
The right to withdraw children from some lessons is explained in the FAQs document (see below).
In light of the current circumstances, it is not possible for us to have a further face to face information session. I am therefore placing the following documents, for you to explore, on our school website:
• A summary of what all pupils are expected to know by the end of primary school,
• A PowerPoint presentation for parents which was delivered by Tara Lewis from the local authority in February
• FAQ sheet
• Lifestyle needs assessment Luton (showing the health challenges the town faces)
• Examples of resources that will be used during RSE lessons
• Our proposed draft Policy for Relationships, Sex and Health Education
• DfE guidance that outlines statutory requirements.
• The link to the consultation questionnaire:
This can all be found on our school website in the Parents Section (RSE):
https://www.maidenhall.co.uk/parents/rse/
This consultation begins on Monday 21st September and ends on Friday 9th October 2020
Your views are very important to us and we will inform you of the outcome of this consultation later this term. Once we have considered all the feedback and liaised with the governing body, the finalised Relationships and Sex Education Policy will be uploaded to the school’s website which will also set out the proposed curriculum.
I hope this provides you with the information that you need and look forward to hearing your responses.
Parent Information Session - Feb 2020
Examples of Resources Used When Teaching RSE
Summary of What Pupils are Expected to Know by the End of Primary School
Lifestyles Needs Assessment 2017