Life to the Full is a Relationships and Health Education (RHE)* curriculum programme, underpinned by a Christian faith understanding that our deepest identity is as a child of God — created, chosen and loved by God.

Some of the 2026 guidance remains unchanged from the 2019 guidance, while other areas have been expanded or introduced. We are carefully reviewing the updated requirements and making the necessary changes to our RSHE curriculum. Our aim is to ensure that Life to the Full continues to provide a clear, confident and authentically Catholic approach to RSHE.

Changes to the guidance

The revised statutory guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE), effective from September 2026, introduces or strengthens the following areas of learning. These are refinements rather than structural changes, and they ensure the programme continues to align with the expanded expectations of the new guidance.

• Online safety and wellbeing: Greater emphasis on online gaming, scams, fraud, privacy, sharing personal information and the impact of online activity on wellbeing.
• Personal safety: A new area of learning covering risks and safety around roads, railways, water and fire.
• Healthy relationships: Stronger emphasis on communication skills, personal boundaries, kindness, respect and recognising unsafe situations.
• Families: Greater emphasis on understanding different family structures, including families with same-sex parents, and recognising the importance of safety within families.
• Mental and emotional wellbeing: Increased focus on loneliness, grief, bereavement, managing emotions and seeking support.
• Growing and changing: Clearer expectations around using correct anatomical terminology, understanding bodily changes and learning about puberty and menstruation in an age-appropriate way.
• Substance awareness: Explicit reference to the risks associated with vaping, nicotine addiction and nicotine pouches.
• Healthy eating: Additional emphasis on developing a healthy relationship with food.
• First aid: Greater emphasis on reporting emergencies and seeking help rather than filming incidents.

How to respond to the consultation

To respond, please email the school office with “RSHE consultation” clearly marked in the subject line.

If you do not have access to email, or would prefer not to use it, please send a written response in a sealed envelope to the school office, with “RSHE consultation” clearly written on the envelope.

Responses can be named or anonymous. All correspondence will be forwarded to Mr O’Rourke, Headteacher.

The consultation will end on Friday 18 December 2026.