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<p>The Department know that education is a strong protective factor against children’s
and young people’s risk of involvement in serious violence. It is important that schools
enable children to achieve, to belong and to be equipped with the skills they need
to be safe and to succeed in life.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is making relationships
and health education compulsory in all primary and secondary schools, and relationships
and sex education compulsory in all secondary schools from September 2020. The aim
is to put in place the building blocks needed for positive and safe relationships
of all kinds, including how to properly handle conflict and to recognise coercive
relationships.</p><p> </p><p>Key decisions on which subjects to include in the new
curriculum were informed by a stakeholder engagement process, where the Department
was contacted by over 63,000 individuals and organisations and a consultation which
received over 11,000 responses. Pupils will be taught about building healthy relationships
and about their mental health and wellbeing. This will enable them to make informed
decisions and seek support if issues arise.</p><p> </p><p>Schools will have the freedom
to ensure the curriculum meets the needs of their pupils. This flexibility will allow
schools to respond to local public health and community issues such as serious violence.
Schools can build on the core content and discuss topics, such as healthy and unhealthy
relationships, in relation to gang and criminal activity.</p><p> </p><p>The Department
also intends to publish the new school and college security guidance shortly. The
guidance makes it clear that the curriculum offers opportunities to help schools and
colleges inform young people about the dangers they may face, both in and around school
and beyond, and provide pupils and students with the means to help keep themselves
safe.</p>
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