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<p>Schools have flexibility over how they deliver the curriculum and cover important
topics within it in a way that works for their context and communities. The department
does not have data on how and whether schools are teaching about organ donation, but
there are plenty of opportunities within the national curriculum for them to do so.</p><p>The
teaching of blood, tissue and organs is covered in the biology national curriculum
to pupils in England between the ages of 11 and 14 in key stage 3. While organ donation
is not specifically mentioned in the national curriculum, schools may choose to cover
it here.</p><p>At primary level, schools can talk about organ donation more generally
in an age-appropriate way as part of the relationships, sex and health education (RSHE)
curriculum, which includes content on physical health and mental wellbeing. The Oak
National Academy, an arm's length public body responsible for creating free curriculum
resources, has produced a lesson that can be taught to pupils between the ages of
7 and 11 in key stage 2. This includes a section on organs, the transplant waiting
list and relevant legislation.</p><p>Organ donation can be covered in more detail
in RSHE for pupils aged 14 to 16 in key stage 4 within the context of healthy lifestyles
and the choices that individuals make in adulthood.</p><p>Departmental officials are
working with NHS Blood and Transplant to arrange to signpost schools to education
resources on organ donation developed by NHS Blood and Transplant and its charity
partners.</p>
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