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Governors’ role in monitoring relationships and sex education (RSE)

Understand how to monitor relationships and sex education (RSE) in your school, including what makes good RSE and what questions to ask so you can challenge your school leaders effectively.

Last reviewed on 12 January 2026See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 39776
Contents
  1. You can start following the 2026 RSHE guidance now
  2. Your responsibilities in RSE
  3. Your school’s RSE requirements 
  4. Know what high-quality RSE looks like 
  5. Questions to ask 
  6. Monitor RSE with sensitivity 
  7. Using RSE to take positive action 

Our governance experts Brendan Hollyer and David New helped us with this article. 

You can start following the 2026 RSHE guidance now

The Department for Education (DfE) has published revised guidance on relationships, sex and health education (RSHE). It's statutory from September 2026, but your school can start following it now. 

See our articles on the current requirements, as well as the updated requirements for September 2026.

Your responsibilities in RSE

All pupils make progress in achieving the expected educational outcomes Your school is meeting its legal obligations to teach RSE with proper resources, staffing and timetables RSE is well led, effectively managed and well planned The quality of provision is subject to regular and effective self-evaluation Teaching is accessible to all pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) Parents/carers receive clear information on the subject content and their right to withdraw