How Ofsted will assess RSE

Relationships and sex education (RSE) isn't inspected on its own - instead, Ofsted will consider this within your school's 'personal development' and 'leadership and management' judgements. Understand what requirements your school needs to meet and evidence it can present.

Last reviewed on 26 September 2024See updates
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Contents
  1. How your RSE provision can affect judgements
  2. How inspectors will make their judgements
  3. How RSE links with protected characteristics 
  4. How inspectors judge your school's approach to harmful, sexual behaviour 

Understand your school's requirements on relationships and health education: requirements from 2020.

How your RSE provision can affect judgements

If inspectors find your school is failing to meet its obligations, they'll consider this when reaching their 'personal development' and 'leadership and management' judgements.

See paragraph 342 of the School Inspection Handbook (September 2024).

RSE within personal development

Ensures that RSE contributes to pupils' personal development  Develops pupils’ age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships through appropriate relationships and sex education Enables pupils to recognise online and offline risks to their wellbeing, including risks of sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation and forced marriage – and making them aware of the support available to them Enables pupils to recognise the dangers of inappropriate use of mobile technology and social media Addresses sexual harassment, online abuse and sexual violence in its RSE and wider curriculum (see more on this in the final section