The Department for Education has announced changes to relationships and sex education following nationwide consultation. These changes were to come into effect from September 2020 but due to Covid 19, schools have been able to delay this until the summer term 2021. In the summer term all schools will be required to comply with the updated requirements.
As a part of your child’s educational experience at Bounds Green School, we aim to promote personal wellbeing and development through a comprehensive taught programme of Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education that gives children and young people the knowledge, under-standing, attitudes and practical skills to live healthy, safe, productive and fulfilled lives, both now and in the future.
As you may already be aware, the Department for Education has announced changes to relationships and sex education following nationwide consultation. These changes were to come into effect from September 2020 but due to Covid 19, schools have been able to delay this until the summer term 2021. In the summer term all schools will be required to comply with the updated requirements. The statutory guidance can be found at:
The new guidance focuses on healthy relationships and keeping children safe in the modern world. It also covers a wide range of topics relating to physical and mental health, wellbeing, safeguarding and healthy relationships.
Learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up will give children and young people the information, skills and positive values to have safe, fulfilling relationships and help them take responsibility for their own well-being.
Consequently, from the summer term 2021, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE), along with Health Education, will be statutory, and form part of the National Curriculum.
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 based on their:
Age
Physical and emotional maturity
Religious and cultural backgrounds
Special educational needs and disabilities
Whilst we are sure that there will be differences of opinion about this, 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. As part of our consultation, we would like your views on:
Our draft policy for 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 presentation video and in our FAQs document. You can see a copy of the Withdrawal letter at the bottom of this page, if you would like to request a copy, please contact the school.
As a school community, we are currently in unprecedented times which makes it a little more challenging to consult with you. To help you understand the curriculum requirements, we have placed information here on our website, which we would encourage you to read. Part of this is a Presentation for Parents, which we would ordinarily have shared with you in person, but instead we have created a video for you.
Video presentation and other documents to read include:
A video presentation for parents
A summary of what all pupils are expected to know by the end of primary school (DfE)
FAQ sheet
Our proposed draft policy for (PSHE)Relationships and Sex Education
The online consultation questionnaire has now closed but you can still see a copy of the questions that were asked here:
The consultation questions on the questionnaire are as follows:
Are there any changes or additions that you think should be made to the Bounds Green Relationship, Sex Education (RSE) policy? Yes/No – If ‘yes’ then please comment.
Thinking about sex and relationship education, what do you believe is the most important subject area that should be taught at each year group or at each key stage?
Do you have any comments or questions regarding the content of relationships and sex education for each year group or key stage?
Thinking about RSE, is there an area that you think should not be taught for different age groups/key stages and why?
Do you know of any resources that you feel may be beneficial for the school to use to support our teaching of RSE at Bounds Green School?
I think relationship is an important part of the primary school curriculum. Do you agree with this statement? Yes/No
I think sex education (alongside relationship education) is an important part of the primary school curriculum. Do you agree with this statement? Yes/No
Would you like any further support, advice or guidance on how to speak to your child about relationship and sex education outside of school? Yes/No
If yes, what sex and relationship topics would you like further information on?
Your views are very important to us and we will respond to you on the outcome of this process in the autumn term.
Once we have considered all your feedback, the draft Relationships and Sex Education Policy will be amended and presented to the governors for approval.
On approval, the final policy will be uploaded on the website.
We hope this information and attached documents go some way to answer any questions you may have. If you have any queries or concerns regarding the consultation process, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
