Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) Consultation
The Secretary of State made Regulations to amend the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order 2007 (Northern Ireland) (“the Order”) to add additional topics to the RSE curriculum at
Key Stages 3 and 4.
It applies only to specific elements of the RSE curriculum at post-primary, namely that:
“The curriculum for every grant-aided school shall, in relation to key stages 3 and 4, include age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion.”
The Regulations also enable the Department to make provision for,
at the request of a parent, a pupil to be excused from specific RSE lessons that contain age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion.
The Department of Education has launched a full consultation on the circumstances and arrangements which would enable a parent to excuse their child.
The consultation will run from 1 September until 24 November 2023.
The Department would encourage all school staff and parents/guardians to take the time to consider and respond to the consultation which will help inform future guidance for schools on these important and sensitive subjects.
Your response can be made:
• Online at Citizen Space at
https://consultations.nidirect.gov.uk/de/rse-consultationThe Consultation Booklet is also available to download from Consultations | Department of Education (education-ni.gov.uk) and can be emailed directly to the Department at rseresponses@education-ni.gov.uk or posted to:
Curriculum Team
Room S1
Rathgael House
Balloo Road, Rathgill
Bangor
BT19 7PR.
The Department has updated its website to reflect these latest RSE developments and will continue to provide updated information, which can be found at
https://www.education-ni.gov.uk/articles/relationship-and-sexuality-education-rseI would encourage all interested parties to make a response on the consultation.
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