A Critical Review of the 2025 RSHE Guidance and Alternative Approach Framed in Safe Uncertainty.
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| Title: | A Critical Review of the 2025 RSHE Guidance and Alternative Approach Framed in Safe Uncertainty. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Setty, Emily (AUTHOR), Hunt, Jonny (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Children & Society. Jul2026, Vol. 40 Issue 4, p872-877. 6p. |
| Subjects: | Medical protocols, Policy sciences, Sex education, Health policy, Evaluation of human services programs, Uncertainty, Decision making, Conceptual structures, Interpersonal relations, Health education |
| Geographic Terms: | England |
| Abstract: | This policy review critically examines the English government's 2025 statutory guidance on Relationships Education, Relationship and Sex Education and Health Education (RSHE), analysing its educational assumptions, strengths and limitations through the lens of safe uncertainty. While the updated guidance somewhat reinstates key inclusive elements and promotes social and emotional literacy, it continues to position RSHE as a risk domain requiring tight control and cautious delivery. This review highlights areas of concern including contradictions in the guidance's treatment of digital image sharing, the approach to gender and the conditional framing of children's rights and participation. Drawing on the concept of safe uncertainty, we advocate a more coherent rights‐based framework, clearer policy direction and sustained investment in teacher support and infrastructure. We call for RSHE policy and practice to move beyond compliance and certainty, and instead build relational, reflective and dialogic spaces where students can engage meaningfully with the ethical and social dimensions of their lives. In doing so, RSHE can fulfil its broader educational promise in preventing harm and supporting the flourishing of students as relational and sexual citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Children & Society is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: pbh DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection An: 194784033 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194784033 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/chso.13012 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 6 StartPage: 872 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Medical protocols Type: general – SubjectFull: Policy sciences Type: general – SubjectFull: Sex education Type: general – SubjectFull: Health policy Type: general – SubjectFull: Evaluation of human services programs Type: general – SubjectFull: Uncertainty Type: general – SubjectFull: Decision making Type: general – SubjectFull: Conceptual structures Type: general – SubjectFull: Interpersonal relations Type: general – SubjectFull: Health education Type: general – SubjectFull: England Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: A Critical Review of the 2025 RSHE Guidance and Alternative Approach Framed in Safe Uncertainty. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Setty, Emily – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Hunt, Jonny IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 07 Text: Jul2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 09510605 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 40 – Type: issue Value: 4 Titles: – TitleFull: Children & Society Type: main |
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