The DfE published revised statutory guidance—“Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education”—updated today, July 15, 2025, and scheduled to take effect on 1 September 2026 .
Key updates and implications
1. Tackling online harms—with a sharpened focus on misogyny
Reinforced focus on online safety, including:
Misogyny, “incel” culture, deepfakes, AI chatbots, pornography, online scams .
Secondary students will explore:
Spotting fake accounts
Understanding extremist narratives and online sexual ethics
Recognizing indecent images as crimes
These changes respond to alarming stats: 54 % of 11–19 year-olds reported hearing misogynistic comments at school, with 37 % expressing concerns about girls’ safety .
2. Lessons on digital literacy and AI
New guidance includes how data and AI chatbots shape online behavior, along with tools to spot and critically evaluate misinformation .
Schools—including Oak National Academy—are supporting this with free lesson materials from autumn 2025 .
3. Promoting sexual ethics & resisting harmful culture
The curriculum addresses “manosphere” myths, encouraging:
Awareness of incel culture
Promotion of positive male role models, not stigmatizing boys .
Emphasizes sexual consent, clarifying that harassment or violence are never victims’ fault .
4. LGBT+ representation & age appropriateness
LGBT+ subjects remain central—64 % of consultation respondents opposed limiting content .
Teaches Equality Act protected characteristics, same-sex families in primary, and integrated LGBT+ coverage in secondary.
No fixed age thresholds—for example, no mandatory “no content under age X”—but requires age-appropriate delivery decided by schools .
5. Mental health & safeguarding
Builds upon existing mental health provisions with additional support on self-harm, suicide awareness, and using mental health professionals in teaching ().
Reinforced duties for schools—policies must be legally compliant, publicly available, and regularly reviewed ().
Why this matters
In a world where young people face online misogyny, AI-driven manipulation, and evolving gender identities, this refreshed guidance equips schools to prepare students to navigate complex modern challenges.
Safety & resilience: Empowering students to spot deepfakes, incel rhetoric, and manipulative content.
Ethical understanding: Promoting consent, respect, and positive relationship role models.
Inclusivity: Fully inclusive and age-appropriate LGBT+ learning.
Transparency & trust: Strengthened engagement with parents fosters community confidence.