A simple, parent‑friendly overview of the recent changes to Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) education
The Scottish Government has released new statutory RSHP teaching guidance (published 4 February 2025). This replaces the previous 2014 guidance and reflects what children and young people need today to stay safe and healthy.
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In primary settings, RSHP focuses on:
Building positive relationships
Understanding kindness, respect, and boundaries
Learning what is safe and appropriate behaviour
Beginning to understand consent in simple, age‑appropriate ways
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This is not about teaching explicit sexual content. It’s about helping children develop confidence, respect for others, and the ability to stay safe.
The revised guidance emphasises helping children understand:
Safe and unsafe situations
How to express when something feels wrong
How to get help from trusted adults
This supports early prevention of gender‑based violence as children grow.
A major update is helping children recognise risks in the online world.
The guidance highlights teaching children to:
Understand potential online harms
Make safe and informed choices when using digital devices
Recognise when something online doesn’t feel right
The new guidance reflects Scotland’s commitment to equality and inclusion.
It includes recommendations from national reviews (such as the LGBT Inclusive Education Working Group).
This means RSHP will continue to:
Promote respect for everyone
Acknowledge and value the diversity of families
Foster a sense of belonging for all children
The updated RSHP guidance aligns with the Curriculum Improvement Cycle and will continue evolving as the national curriculum is refreshed.
Schools will receive ongoing support in implementing this.
We will:
Review our current RSHP teaching materials
Ensure lessons reflect the new statutory guidance
Continue to teach RSHP in an age‑appropriate, sensitive, and inclusive way
Let parents know what is taught at each stage
Provide opportunities to view materials or ask questions
If you ever have questions about what your child will learn in RSHP, please contact the school. We are happy to:
Share resources
Discuss lesson content
Explain our approach
Listen to your views
We want RSHP to support every child to feel safe, confident, and respected—both online and offline.