In 2020, the government introduced a statutory requirement for schools to cover Relationships and Sex education content alongside Health Education at key stages 3 and 4 The Relationships core theme of PSHE education includes learning about positive friendships; bullying and unsafe relationships; relationships values; marriage and parenting; consent; and how to safely engage in relationships online

RSE supports young people to develop healthy relationships with others, and reduces a range of harms to children and young people, including: reducing sexual violence; making it more likely that first sex is delayed and consensual; increasing the likelihood of safe sexual health practices, and increasing the chances that young people seek help should they experience harm.