How Ofsted will assess RSE (secondary)

Last reviewed on 3 March 2022
School types: All · School phases: All
Ref: 42961

Ofsted won't inspect relationships and sex education (RSE) on its own - instead, inspectors will look at how you're meeting statutory requirements for RSE, and consider this within your personal development, and leadership and management.

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Contents

  1. COVID-19 considerations
  2. How your RSE provision can affect judgements
  3. How inspectors will make their judgements
  4. Links with your teaching of the protected characteristics
  5. Find out more about your RSE requirements

COVID-19 considerations

Inspectors will be sympathetic where, as a result of the pandemic, you haven't been able to fully implement the new curriculum, provided you:

  • Have had regard to the statutory guidance
  • Have a good rationale for prioritising what you've implemented
  • Have clear and effective plans to address any gaps before the end of the 2021/22 academic year

This is explained in paragraph 262 of the updated School Inspection Handbook.

How your RSE provision can affect judgements

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

See paragraph 261 of the inspection handbook linked above.

RSE within personal development

Developing pupils’ age-appropriate understanding of healthy relationships through appropriate relationships and sex education Enabling pupils to recognise online and offline risks to their wellbeing, including risks of sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, female

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