About RSHE
National Policy 2020 requires all primary schools to teach Relationships Education, and all secondary schools are required to teach Relationships and Sex Education (RSE). Many schools teach this as part of a broader Personal, Social, Health, and Economic (PSHE) curriculum.
The government guidance available on GOV.UK sets out what schools should do, and their legal duties in delivering Relationships Education and Health Education. This replaced the Sex and Relationships Education Guidance published in 2000. It is the responsibility of schools to ensure that they have an RSE policy, which is up to date, has been consulted with parents and is in line with good practice.
Haringey Healthy Schools recommends a whole school approach to RSHE, and that teaching promotes equality and diversity and considers the opinions of pupils, parents, and local communities.
Why Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education are so important
Good quality Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education prepares children and young people for the changes they will experience as they grow up and for healthy relationships. It enables them to be mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy and provides the skills to be safe, make informed decisions, and protect themselves and others around them – including online.
Through good quality RSE, young people are more likely to get help when they need it, to delay sex until they are ready, use contraception, tell someone if they have experienced sexual abuse, and less likely to have an early unplanned pregnancy.
Support for schools
P/RSHE network meetings
Haringey Public Health has established termly network meetings for RSHE and PSHE leads within primary and secondary schools. These meetings are a great way to get information and advice about PSHE/RSHE, meet other leads, and share best practice.
Occasionally, network meetings may be replaced by training sessions designed to develop RSHE and PSHE leads’ skills and knowledge and support them to confidently deliver high-quality PSHE and RSHE in their schools.
The Haringey P/RSHE Network Meeting dates for the 2024/25 academic year are:
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Primary schools |
Secondary schools |
|---|---|
|
28 January 2025, 9.30-11.30am |
29 January 2025, 9.30-11.30am |
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6 May 2025, 9.30-11.30am |
7 May 2025, 9.30-11.30am |
Invitations are sent ahead of time, please email healthy.schools@haringey.gov.uk to sign up for these meetings or for any queries around PSHE or RSHE delivery in your school.
PSHE Association
To support the delivery of PSHE and RHSE within Haringey schools, Haringey Healthy Schools are continuing to fund PSHE Association memberships for Haringey maintained schools (usual cost is £115 per school) for the 2024/25 academic year.
If you already had a membership login you can use the same details as previously. If you would like to add new staff members then you can do so in the ‘my account’ section or by contacting healthy.schools@haringey.gov.uk. Memberships will expire in August 2025.
Benefits of membership include access to a full library of quality assured lesson plans, tailored support from subject specialists, and access to training opportunities,
RSHE resources for schools
There are a range of teaching resources to support Relationships Education, RSE and Health Education which are produced by public and voluntary sector organisations and commercial companies, many of which are free of charge. Schools may wish to use these free resources or may alternatively choose to buy into a package of resources.
Sources of PSHE and RSHE resources include:
- PSHE Association
- Kapow Primary
- Jigsaw PSHE
- BBC PSHE resources for primary and secondary
- Oak National Academy
There are also free e-learning courses aimed at professionals, available from the Brook Learn website in various subjects that fall within RSE. As part of your RSE curriculum, you may wish to refer to our sexual health pages. If you are looking for guest speakers to deliver assemblies, workshops, or lessons on specific topic areas, please contact healthy.schools@haringey.gov.uk.
Haringey Healthy Schools do not recommend any specific resources from these or other sources. Instead, we encourage each school or institution to review the materials they use to make sure they are suitable for the children and young people in their classrooms. We know the needs of schools, pupils, and communities vary across the country and the borough, so please consider the specific needs of your children when assessing materials.