Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education

This is statutory guidance from the Department for Education (DfE) issued under section 80A of the Education Act 2002 and section 403 of the Education Act 1996.

Schools must have regard to the guidance and, where they depart from those parts of the guidance which state that they should, or should not, do something, they will need to have good reasons for doing so.

This statutory guidance applies to all schools, and is for:

• governing bodies of maintained schools (including schools with a sixth-form) and non-maintained special schools
• trustees or directors of academies and free schools
• proprietors of independent schools (including academies and free schools)
• management committees of pupil referral units (PRUs)
• teachers, other school staff and school nurses
• headteachers, principals and senior leadership teams
• diocese and other faith representatives
• relevant local authority staff for reference