Parent and carer information

At Walton Academy, we want our students to leave school with the knowledge, understanding and skills they need to lead healthy, safe and fulfilling lives, build positive relationships and make informed and responsible choices.

Relationships, sex and health education (RSHE) forms an important part of our personal development curriculum. It is taught progressively, with content carefully sequenced to reflect students’ age, maturity and stage of development.

Our RSHE provision follows the Department for Education’s statutory guidance, which came into effect on 1 September 2026, alongside our wider commitments to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.

You can find further information about the statutory guidance for relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), including guidance for parents and carers, on the government website.

What do students learn?

As students progress through the academy, age-appropriate learning includes:

  • healthy and respectful relationships, friendships and boundaries
  • consent and respectful behaviour
  • puberty, physical development and sexual health
  • reproduction, contraception and pregnancy
  • online relationships, digital safety and pornography
  • recognising unhealthy, controlling or abusive relationships
  • sexual harassment and harmful sexual behaviour
  • emotional and mental wellbeing
  • drugs, alcohol and other health-related risks
  • equality, diversity, identity and belonging
  • protected characteristics and respect for others
  • rights, responsibilities and the law, and
  • knowing where to access appropriate help and support.

Content is carefully sequenced so that students develop their understanding over time and receive relevant knowledge at an appropriate stage of their development.

How is RSHE delivered?

RSHE is delivered through our personal development curriculum through planned, age-appropriate lessons.

Students have opportunities to develop knowledge, discuss issues safely, consider different perspectives, challenge stereotypes and misconceptions, and apply their learning to real-life situations.

RSHE forms part of our wider personal development programme alongside health and wellbeing, citizenship, careers, financial education and preparation for adulthood. Learning may also be reinforced through assemblies, student leadership, enrichment and other aspects of academy life.

A safe and inclusive learning environment

Some RSHE topics can be sensitive. Teachers establish clear expectations for respectful discussion and ensure that students are not pressured to share personal experiences.

Students are encouraged to ask questions, listen to different perspectives and express their views appropriately. Any safeguarding concern or disclosure is dealt with in accordance with the academy’s safeguarding procedures.

Our RSHE curriculum is age-appropriate, inclusive and accessible, recognising that students have different backgrounds, needs and experiences.

Equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded throughout the programme. Students develop their understanding of equality, identity, belonging, protected characteristics, prejudice and discrimination, and learn how to build respectful relationships and challenge harmful behaviour.

Working with parents and carers

We recognise the important role parents and carers play in supporting their children’s understanding of relationships, health and growing up.

We provide information about our RSHE curriculum and policy and welcome questions and feedback. Parent and student voice helps inform our ongoing review of the provision.

You can view our current policy below.

Relationships, sex and health education policy

Withdrawal from sex education

Parents and carers have the right to request that their child is withdrawn from some or all sex education delivered as part of statutory RSHE, subject to the arrangements set out in the statutory guidance.

Parents and carers do not have the right to withdraw their child from relationships education, health education, or any related content that forms part of the statutory national curriculum for science. Further information is available in the government guidance on compulsory subjects.

Parents or carers wishing to discuss withdrawal should contact the academy so that the request can be considered in accordance with our RSHE policy and the statutory guidance.

Reviewing our provision

We regularly review our RSHE programme to ensure that it remains:

  • age-appropriate and carefully sequenced
  • accurate, relevant and inclusive
  • aligned with statutory guidance
  • responsive to student and parent voice, and
  • connected to our wider personal development and safeguarding provision.

Our aim is that every student develops the knowledge, confidence and skills to make informed choices, maintain healthy relationships, look after their wellbeing and seek help when they need it.
For questions or feedback about RSHE, please contact enquiries@walton-ac.org.uk.