PSHEC & RSE

What is RSE?

RSE stands for Relationships and Sex Education. We teach RSE as part of our PSHEC curriculum. PSHEC stands for Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education and Citizenship. The content covered in RSE is part of the National Curriculum – all schools are required to teach it, but different schools have different names for it and different approaches to teaching it. 

Why do we believe RSE is important?

Society is constantly evolving, and considering what it means to be a responsible citizen in the 21st century presents many complex issues.RSE is an extremely important subject as it covers a wide range of topics that people need to know about for their own well-being and for the well-being of others. It is vital that students have certain information as they are growing up so that they can better understand themselves, other people and the society in which they live. It is also crucial that they have information so that they can make good choices and decisions that will keep them safe and healthy. 

On 24 October 2023, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan announced that Schools should let parents see Sex Education materials that are taught to pupils within schools "to make clear that they can and should share relationships, sex and health (RSHE) curriculum materials with parents."

Parents reserve the right to withdraw their children from the elements of the curriculum where sex and sexual relationships is taught. The school sends an annual letter of right to withdraw to all parents via School Post. It is important that parents read this letter carefully each year.

An example of the materials that are used to teach sex education at Thurstable School are above.