fighting for high quality RSE

In June 2026, the Department for Education published the new statutory guidance for Relationships and Sex Education. This new guidance does not contain the harmful restrictions on topics such as abuse and contraception which had featured in the previous government’s draft guidance. This was due in no small part to the efforts of Brook and our sector partners, who had tirelessly campaigned to protect young people’s right to learn crucial information that would keep themselves and each other safe.

Although the new guidance is welcome, its reduced clarity and content on LBGT+ identities, and vague wording on gender is likely to cause uncertainty for teachers and leave young people feeling unsupported and ill-equipped for life outside school. To address this Brook worked alongside Sex Education Forum, the PSHE Association and several other organisations to develop additional guidance for schools on how best to address LGBT+ topics within the new curriculum.

In collaboration with Sex Education Forum, End Violence Against Women Coalition and Make it Mandatory, Brook has been campaigning to extend mandatory RSE to 16+ education settings. Thanks to our campaign, the Government has committed to making RSE mandatory up to the age of 18 as part of their new strategy to tackle violence and against women and girls.