RSE Update – A Temporary Reprieve

On June 4, 2020 the Department for Education (DfE) issued a statement “Communication to schools on the implementation of Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex and Health Education”. This statement has been heralded as an encouragement with regard to delaying the introduction of the new Statutory guidance for Relationships Education for primary education, and in secondary education Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in September 2020 as originally planned. In reality, it is only a temporary reprieve, nonetheless, we trust in the Lord’s purposes, that it may lead to a longer delay and that it will also be a wake-up call to Christian parents as we become more and more aware of the influences driving what we will be taught in the classroom.

The DfE statement opens with the paragraph “The Department is committed to supporting all children to grow up happy, healthy and safe, and to provide them with the knowledge they need to manage the opportunities and challenges of modern Britain. That is why, all primary age children will be taught Relationships Education and Health Education and all secondary age children will be taught Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education“

It is hard to argue with the sentiments in the first sentence yet it is the means that will be used to achieve this in the second sentence which CViE would question and warn against. The danger of the new statutory guidance is the opportunity it provides for those who desire to do so to promote ideologies and teach practices that have harmful consequences for children and young people in growing up happy, healthy and safe.

It is interesting to note that the subjects within the new statutory guidance “will still become compulsory from 1 September 2020. However, schools have flexibility to decide how they discharge their duties effectively. If a school is unable to begin teaching until summer term 2021 they will need to decide how much of the content they will be able to cover and should still be able to demonstrate how they will cover the entirety of the curriculum in the future. Furthermore, as the subjects will be compulsory from 1 September 2020 the new parental right to withdraw provision will apply”.

The changes in the new statutory guidance on the right of parents to withdraw their children from relationship and sex education have been a concern. At primary, parents will have the right to withdraw the child from sex education; at secondary, this will be right to request withdrawal, subject to agreement by the Head, while a child will be able to decide for themselves to opt in from the age of 15.

In summary, from 1 September 2020, Relationships Education, Health Education, and Relationships and Sex Education will still be compulsory. However:

• From 1 September 2020 to the end of the spring term 2021 – Following an assessment of preparedness, schools should commence teaching as soon as practically possible or use the time to prepare to deliver the new curriculum. This includes engaging parents on their policy as well as planning their curriculum provision.
• By the start of the summer term 2021 – All schools should have begun teaching the subjects.

If your child’s school is delaying the introduction of the new statutory guidance and have not yet consulted on their relationships and sex education policy then find out what is happening and make sure you contribute to the consultation and ensure your voices heard.

Christian Concern recently published a post on their website regarding the delay. This post is particularly helpful as there is an outline letter that can be used in contacting schools regarding consultation on the relationship and sex education policy. The letter is in the form of a template and is a useful guide, however as is generally the case it is best to use your own words when writing letters of this sort. (See: https://christianconcern.com/news/rse-victory-for-parental-rights-for-now/)

At the CViE RSE briefing event held at Harpenden in early March 2020, copies of the CViE “RSE Briefing – What will your children be taught? – Supporting Material” were distributed.

This publication is designed to help parents realise what is contained in the new Relationships Education for primary education, and in secondary education Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) Statutory guidance so that they can talk to their schools and/or contribute to consultations from a position of understanding.

Hard copies of the document are still available and can be obtained by emailing administration@cvie.org.uk or an e-copy can be accessed on the CViE website: https://www.cvie.org.uk/rse-cvie-briefing-resources/

In addition, we have uploaded to our video collection, a copy of the PowerPoint presentation made by Dan Sayers at the RSE Briefing. The presentation includes a voice-over by Dan to put the PowerPoint slides into context.

CViE, if the Lord will, be writing further posts to raise awareness of the material that children and young people may be exposed to teaching of Relationship Education and Relationships and Sex Education.

A final challenge, do you know what your children are going to be and/or will be taught from September 2020 in either Relationship Education or Relationships and Sex Education? Or will it be your child saying to you “do you know what we did today?”