This July, the Department for Education published new statutory guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE). These updated requirements will become statutory in September 2026, and until then, the current 2019 guidelines remain in effect.

At Ten Ten Resources, we want to reassure you that there is no immediate action required. We are already working behind the scenes to update the Life to the Full programme so that your curriculum remains compliant, high-quality and faithful to a Catholic understanding of the human person.

What is changing?

The new guidance builds on the 2019 curriculum and introduces some new areas of focus. The table below outlines key changes relevant to primary and secondary schools:

TopicPrimary SchoolsSecondary SchoolsChange Type
Mental Health & WellbeingAdds emotional regulation, grief and bereavementClarifies difference between low mood and mental illness; introduces suicide preventionNew / Enhanced
Relationships & FamiliesStronger encouragement to include same-sex familiesSame-sex relationships to be taught as part of the statutory contentEnhanced
Gender & IdentityFactual teaching on sex and gender reassignment law; age-appropriateLegal facts only; no endorsement of any single viewpointEnhanced
Online SafetyOptional content on online harms, where age-appropriateExpanded: incel culture, online misogyny, deepfakes, financial scamsNew
Physical Health & SafetyAdds safety content: fire, water, road, railAdds knife crime, consent, harassment, strangulation, gambling and financial exploitationNew
Health & PubertyConfirms anatomical language for safeguardingExpanded content on menstrual health, menopause, pregnancy and related conditionsNew / Enhanced

What happens next?

We know that change in statutory guidance can bring a sense of uncertainty—but there’s no need to worry. As a Life to the Full subscriber, you’re already in safe hands.

Here’s how Ten Ten will support your school:

  • In this First Monday Email, we’re sharing a clear overview of what’s changed in the statutory guidance.
  • Over the coming year, we’ll begin updating the Life to the Full programme to reflect the new requirements—always through a Catholic lens.
  • By Summer Term 2026, we’ll publish new materials to support your planning. This will include optional training resources for staff and communications you can share with parents.
  • From September 2026, you’ll be fully equipped to teach the updated curriculum confidently and in line with statutory expectations.
  • Throughout, we’ll continue to liaise with diocesan education offices to ensure our updates align with local and national expectations.

Final word

We hope this gives you confidence and peace of mind. We’ll be walking alongside you every step of the way to ensure your school community is ready, supported, and resourced.

If you have any questions or feedback, we’re always here to help. Contact us at contact@tentenresources.co.uk.