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<p>In September 2020 the government made Relationships Education compulsory for primary
school pupils, Relationships and Sex Education compulsory for secondary school pupils
and Health Education compulsory for all pupils in state-funded schools.</p><p>In secondary
schools, the Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) statutory guidance states
that pupils should be taught factual knowledge around sex, sexual health, and sexuality,
set firmly within the context of relationships. Pupils should learn about contraception,
sexually transmitted infections (STIs), developing intimate relationships and resisting
pressure to have sex. Further information and a link to the guidance can be found
here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/relationships-education-relationships-and-sex-education-rse-and-health-education</a>.</p><p>To
support teachers to deliver these topics safely and with confidence, the department
has produced RSHE Teacher Training Modules. The ‘intimate and sexual relationships,
including sexual health’ topic specifies that by the end of secondary school, pupils
should know how the different STIs, including HIV/AIDS, are transmitted, how risk
can be reduced through safer sex and the importance of and facts about testing. Pupils
are also taught about HIV/AIDS at Key Stages 3 and 4 of the science curriculum. Further
information and a link to the training modules can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-relationships-sex-and-health"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/teaching-about-relationships-sex-and-health</a>.</p><p>From
primary education onwards, age appropriate Relationships Education supports pupils
to treat each other with kindness, consideration and respect, including understanding
the importance of respectful relationships and the different types of loving and healthy
relationships that exist.</p><p>The department will be launching a public consultation
by the end of this year on a draft revised RSHE guidance, so that interested parties
can contribute their comments and ideas, including on sexual health and STIs, including
HIV/AIDS education. The department will carefully consider responses received and
intends to publish the final guidance in 2024.</p>
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