RSE: The Evidence

The evidence for Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) is staggering. Learn more about the evidence, challenge your own beliefs and find out how to support high-quality RSE

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This animation is based on Sex Education Forum’s report, Relationships and Sex Education: The Evidence.

Did you know? Young people who don’t receive any RSE are more likely to take more ‘sexual risks’, including sex before the legal age of consent and unprotected sex.

Did you know? LGBT+ inclusive RSE makes young people feel safer and experience lower levels of bullying. It also lowers reports of suicidal thoughts and suicide plans, irrespective of gender or sexuality.

Read Brook’s position statement on RSE

More evidence to support RSE

If you support high-quality RSE in schools, sign our pledge!

RSE: The myths

Conversations around RSE are often riddled with myths. Have you ever heard any of these?

“RSE spoils children’s innocence”

“RSE lessons introduce children to the idea of being LGBT+”

“What is being taught in RSE lessons is being hidden from parents”

In 2023, the conversation around RSE has largely been dominated by a small group of campaigners who are against children and young people learning about sex and relationships, especially education that is LGBT+ inclusive.

Read our myth-busting responses

How was your RSE?

This self-reflection exercise might help you to think about the RSE you want for your child/young person.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What can you remember about your own sex education in school?
What was good about your experience of sex education and was helpful, what was bad about it or was harmful, what was missing?
What things have changed in children’s and young people’s lives since you were at school?
What things have stayed the same?
What are you most worried about for your child and how could RSE help reduce risks for them?
Are there any aspects of relationships, sex, health, life online you know your child needs to know about, but you find difficult to talk about?
Which topics could you talk about if you had more knowledge/facts?
Which topics could you talk about if you had a chance to gain confidence through some training, or group discussion?

Want to give your children the rse you never had?

Support our pledge to stand up for high-quality RSE that is high-quality, effective and empowers young people and children to thrive.

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What do young people say they want?

In the latest poll by The Sex Education Forum, students reported that they don’t learn enough about issues that affect them the most, including pornography (58%), LGBTQ+-relevant information (54%), and healthy relationships (54%).

It would feel much better if the person teaching sex Ed just taught sex Ed… I think that would feel better and safer than your history teacher who just doesn’t want to be there.

I went to a Catholic school and we were told that contraception didn’t exist which is so harmful.

I loved the talks because I learnt interesting facts about my body and it helps me recognise the changes to my body.

What do parents say?

It’s really not that controversial, don’t be scared about it, it’s SUPPORTING children and helping them be understanding and supportive of others.

Parents are in support of appropriate sexual health education for their children, especially when we (the parents) were not privy to such education as children.

Parents do support RSE and we would be keen to engage with more discussions with the schools directly on how to support our children receiving the RSE curriculum.

I support RSE because I have a young son and my hope for him is that he grows up in an educated, tolerant world where people take the time to develop and nurture healthy relationships that are based on understanding and mutual respect.

As a parent, I wholeheartedly support RSE because it empowers our children to respect themselves and others, fostering a safer, more inclusive society for everyone.

Pledge your support for RSE

As the government reviews its guidance of Relationships, Sex and Health Education we need more people to stand up for RSHE that is high-quality, effective, inclusive and empowers children and young people to thrive.

Sign our pledge for RSE

More information for parents…

RSE: At school

RSE: At home