Emily Bourne, Education Team Administrator, comments on the latest status of Relationships and Sex Education in the different regions of the UK and what this means for parental rights

In England, since September 2021, Relationships Education has been compulsory in all primary schools and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) has been compulsory in all secondary schools.

Four years on, the subject remains extremely controversial. Christian Concern continues to support teachers and parents who are opposed to sexually explicit and ideologically-driven content being taught to young children in schools.

But how has the guidance changed over recent years? What does this mean if you live in different parts of the UK?

Long awaited guidance for England – parental rights matter

In July 2025, the Department for Education released its long awaited updated guidance on Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education, which came into force for England in September 2026.

Partly because of concerns raised by our clients, such as Nigel and Sally Rowe and Calvin and Nicola Watts, there has been a significant shift in how society views RSE.

This is reflected in the new guidance which is clear that parents must be allowed an active role in the review and development of a school’s RSHE policies. Parents must be allowed to view materials, and schools are told not to enter into copyright agreements with providers who seek to keep parents in the dark about what is being taught.

The guidance also clarifies that pupils are not to be taught contested matters as fact – the guidance uses the example that children should not be taught that everybody has a gender identity. Schools are to avoid using external providers which are ideological, misrepresent the law or have a vested interest in what is being taught. This ought to mean an end to groups like Stonewall, Mermaids and Just Like Us providing sessions – but in likelihood, parents and teachers will need to speak up to make sure this guidance is being properly followed.

It can still be difficult to challenge these matters if you have LGBT activist teachers or parents in the school, but it means that in England parents continue to have a right to withdraw their children from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSHE. It should also be remembered that, according to Article 2 Protocol 1 of the Human Rights Act, schools have an obligation to ensure that the rights of parents to raise their children in accordance with their own religious or philosophical beliefs is respected.

The recent update to Keeping Children Safe in Education has placed the issue of gender questioning children within safeguarding considerations. However, it has left unaddressed the prevalence of gender ideology propaganda in curriculum materials, library books, and regular LGBT celebrations such as Pride.

Wales – rollout of mandatory RSE

Under the Curriculum and Assessment (Wales) Act 2021, the RSE Code, and the accompanying statutory guidance, Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is a mandatory element of the Curriculum for Wales for pupils aged 3 to 16.

The Code (but not the guidance) was voted through by the Welsh Parliament in December 2021, and the rollout was completed in September 2026. The law in Wales does not give parents a right to withdraw children of compulsory school age from RSE, although schools should work closely with parents and carers so that they understand what is being taught.

The Code requires RSE content to “develop awareness and understanding of different identities, views and values and a diversity of relationships, gender and sexuality, including LGBTQ+ lives.”

Although official guidance also states that RSE must be objective, critical and pluralistic, it is often down to individual teachers in Wales to determine what this means in practice. This means that if there are activist teachers within the school, they can use their classroom as a campaigning platform to influence vulnerable young minds, with much less scope for parents in Wales to argue for their children to be removed from these lessons.

Scotland – rights of the child

In Scotland, Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) education is governed by updated statutory guidance published by the Scottish Government in February 2026, replacing the earlier 2014 guidance.

Scotland does not have a statutory curriculum in the same way as some other parts of the UK. Instead, RSHP sits within Curriculum for Excellence, mainly taught through Health and Wellbeing units, with additional contentious topics integrated into Religious and Moral Education and through a whole-school approach. LGBT teaching can therefore become embedded throughout the curriculum, and this is encouraged through separate guidance.

Official guidance says RSHP should be taught in an “objective, balanced and sensitive” way, and that learning should be appropriate to the child’s age and stage. Although the Scottish Government’s 2023 consultation material said that parents should continue to have an opportunity to withdraw their children from RSHP education, that assurance does not appear in the final statutory guidance published in February 2026. Whilst finalised guidance does require schools to respond sensitively to parental requests for withdrawal from the sexual-health elements of RSHP, it stops short of establishing an express or automatic right to withdraw (see 2.13, page 8).

Parental rights have been further eroded following a decision by the Scottish government to remove the long‑held parental right to withdraw children from Religious Education. We are seeing a shift towards schools prioritising children’s wishes above those of their parents, in line with a broader international agenda that focuses on children’s-rights principles. Where there is a move towards an integrative approach, where aspects of RSHP are included and discussed across many areas of the curriculum, it is harder for parents to exert any right to withdraw their children. This undermines their God-given authority and allows continued state overreach into family life.

This is a serious problem given reports that organisations such as LGBT Youth Scotland operate without restriction in Scottish schools, promoting gender ideology in the classrooms. They are seeking to recruit pupils as “LGBT allies”, which many parents and safeguarding experts believe is inappropriate and confusing for young children. It is important for parents to push back where inappropriate external agencies are being invited into schools to deliver content. Organisations in Scotland such as Unite for Education are seeking to support parents and have created a letter template for people to write to their MSP’s.

Northern Ireland – greater flexibility, but new compulsory content

In Northern Ireland, Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) remains mandatory for all pupils of compulsory school age in grant-aided schools, and all grant-aided schools are required to have an RSE policy based on consultation with parents and pupils.

Schools still have flexibility in how they deliver RSE. Official guidance says resources should be used in line with the school’s ethos and RSE policy, as approved by the Board of Governors. As many schools in Northern Ireland have a strong Christian ethos, this gives those schools considerable scope to situate RSE within a biblical understanding of relationships, marriage and sexual ethics, provided that they still deliver the statutory minimum content accurately, in an age-appropriate manner.

However, in 2023, there was an amendment to the regulations, which are compulsory for post primary grant-aided schools, forcing them to provide education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, including prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion. Although there is a statutory parental right to request withdrawal from such topics, or specified elements of them, that right does not apply to other areas of RSE.

The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), which has responsibility for designing the national curriculum in Northern Ireland, currently has a RSE resource hub and a non-statutory progression framework which includes “LGBTQ+ Matters” as a priority area for teaching. It is explained that schools should increase pupils’ knowledge and understanding of these matters. Whilst schools are not required to use every CCEA resource, and teachers are expected to review materials before use to ensure that they are appropriate for their pupils, it is a sign of a disturbing trajectory which parents in Northern Ireland must closely monitor.

Take action

It is clear that parents across the UK have various reasons to be concerned about such teaching in schools which is encouraging children to become ideological activists. Wherever you live, it is important to engage with the school on this issue. You can use our downloadable template to write to the Headteacher, or another relevant staff member, to ask to see the materials that are being used and to ask how they are used during lessons. Simply use the section relevant to you and personalise it as necessary.

You can find further resources on our education website which is designed to equip and encourage parents, teachers, church leaders, and all those interested in or involved with education to play a faithful role in discipling the next generation. The site brings together various resources to support Christian witness across and has many helpful links to partnering organisations.

And if you want to see children equipped for eternity through Christian education, join us at Education Revolution 2027. We’ll be inspiring and equipping people like you to pursue Christ-centred education. Tickets are available now at a Super Early Bird rate, so take this opportunity to be part of the movement that is seeking to ensure that all children can truly flourish in Christ.