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RSHE: right to withdraw from sex education

Understand parents'/carers’ right to withdraw pupils from sex education under the 2026 RSHE guidance, what ‘exceptional circumstances’ look like for secondary-age pupils, and how to process a request.

Last reviewed on 9 October 2025
•Ref: 52321
Contents
  1. Be clear on parents' right to withdraw and your requirements
  2. Meet with parents/carers who make a withdrawal request
  3. Make your decision and process the request
  4. Provide alternative, appropriate education for these pupils
  5. Continue to engage with parents/carers who have withdrawn their child
  6. Be prepared for wider objections from parents/carers

Be clear on parents' right to withdraw and your requirements

Parents/carers cannot withdraw their child from:

  • Relationships and health education
  • Science lessons which cover sex education topics

They can withdraw their child from some or all of sex education delivered as part of statutory RSE. This means they could request that their child be withdrawn from lessons about certain topics (e.g. contraception), but be present for others (e.g. sexually-transmitted infections).

Parents can withdraw their child until 3 terms before the child turns 16. After that, the pupil can opt back into sex education. You should make sure that pupils are aware of this, so they can make a decision for themselves. Do this during discussions with parents/carers and the pupil if possible, and remind the pupil closer to the time when the pupil will be able