What It Means for Schools and Resources 

Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood (RSHP) education is receiving renewed attention in Scotland, and the debate around it raises wider questions for educators and publishers working across the UK. 

While England made Relationships and sex education (RSE) and health education statutory from 2020, and Wales introduced mandatory Relationships and Sexuality Education through the Curriculum for Wales from 2022, Scotland has taken a different policy route. RSHP lies within the health and wellbeing area of the Curriculum for Excellence, but schools have historically had broad discretion over what is taught and when, contributing to provision that has often been described as uneven. Recent coverage in The Scottish Sun has highlighted growing calls for reform, with campaigners arguing that inconsistency leaves some young people without clear information on relationships, safety and online harms. 

The publication of updated guidance in February 2026 has changed that context. For schools, educators and curriculum providers, the more immediate question is how the revised expectations may shape delivery in practice, and what this might mean more broadly for RSHP and PSHE provision across the UK. 

Why the issue remains under discussion 

Calls for stronger RSHP provision have grown in recent years. A YouGov survey commissioned by the NSPCC of more than 1,000 adults across Scotland found that 67% believed relationships and sex education should be compulsory. The same survey reported that at least 90% considered it important for young people to be taught about healthy and unhealthy relationships, 94% said they should learn about types of abuse and how to seek help, and 93% said online risks, including the sending and sharing of nude images, should be covered. 

Young people have also described gaps in current provision. As one participant in the Young Women Know programme told STV News: "RSHP education is inconsistent and fails to reflect the diverse lived experiences of young people." 

Joanna Smith, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the NSPCC, made a similar case in Tes, arguing that Scotland should move to a statutory footing and ensure teachers and schools are adequately resourced to deliver RSHP consistently. 

Many of the issues raised in this debate are familiar to schools working in PSHE and RSE in England, particularly around online safety, image sharing, consent, safeguarding and access to reliable classroom material. 

Where Scottish policy currently stands 

In February 2026, the Scottish Government published updated statutory guidance on RSHP education in Scottish schools, the first update since 2014. Issued under section 56 of the Standards in Scotland's Schools etc. Act 2000, the guidance states that local authorities must consider it when carrying out their legal responsibilities for education about sexual matters in the schools and settings they manage.  

The revised guidance gives greater prominence to consent, online harms, gender-based violence and LGBT inclusive education, and presents RSHP as something that should be embedded more widely across school life rather than confined to discrete lessons. 

However, the change does not create the same statutory model used elsewhere in the UK. As Tes has reported, campaign groups including the NSPCC continue to call for a compulsory requirement, arguing that without it, provision may continue to vary across Scotland's 32 local authority areas. The question of whether the current framework goes far enough therefore remains open. 

What the RSHP guidance expects schools to deliver 

The February 2026 guidance identifies four thematic areas that schools are expected to reflect across the curriculum. Together, they offer a clearer picture of the direction of travel in Scottish RSHP policy and of the topics likely to remain central to wider UK discussion. 

1. Consent and healthy relationships: The guidance places consent and healthy relationships at the centre of RSHP, with learning expected to develop progressively from primary through to secondary stages, including digital consent, image-based abuse and sources of support. The Issues series covers this directly in Respectful Relationships, with accessible, balanced content for secondary students. 

2. Gender equality: The guidance indicates that schools should address gender stereotypes through language, classroom practice and curriculum content, alongside wider discussion of gender-based violence. Gender Equality in the Issues series offers  content that brings these themes to life across the curriculum. 

3. Faith and belief: The guidance highlights the importance of balanced and inclusive delivery that reflects a range of religious, belief and non-belief perspectives. This is a familiar consideration for schools working across other parts of the UK as well. The Issues series explores this area in Religion, covering a range of perspectives relevant to classroom discussion. 

4. LGBT inclusive education: LGBT identities, families and experiences are presented as part of everyday curriculum practice rather than as a standalone topic. Independence Educational Publishers takes this into consideration when creating resources, with particular emphasis on reflecting family diversity and inclusive representation. The Issues series addresses this through Sexuality and Gender, as well as the forthcoming What Makes a Family? (new, out this summer). 

How schools can review their RSHP provision 

For schools in Scotland, the revised guidance provides a clearer framework for review. For those working elsewhere in the UK, it also reflects a set of questions that are already familiar in PSHE and RSE: curriculum breadth, progression, staff confidence, parental communication and access to suitable resources. From a publisher perspective, these are often the areas where schools look for practical support. 

Reviewing existing provision. One likely implication of the updated guidance is that schools may need to map current teaching against the thematic areas more carefully, particularly where content has been delivered inconsistently or without clear progression over time. 

Curriculum breadth and continuity. Another recurring issue in RSHP and RSE is the extent to which content is treated as a one-off topic rather than something revisited across subjects and year groups. The Scottish guidance reinforces the expectation that these themes should be embedded more broadly across school life and curriculum planning. 

Finding suitable RSHP resources for schools. Access to balanced, up-to-date and clearly structured material is likely to remain a practical consideration for schools, particularly where staff confidence varies. 

Pupil voice and participation. The updated guidance sits alongside a wider emphasis on children's rights in Scotland, including the importance of hearing young people's views on the education they receive. That has implications not only for school practice, but also for how publishers and curriculum providers think about relevance, representation and tone. 

Communication with parents and carers. As in England and Wales, parental communication remains an important part of the overall picture. The Scottish guidance makes clear that parents should be kept informed, which means clarity around curriculum content and resources is likely to remain significant. 

Teacher confidence and professional development. Questions around staff confidence, professional development and time for planning are also likely to remain central to the discussion.  

This is where Issues Online can provide practical support for schools. With a wide range of curriculum-relevant content already covering many of the themes within RSHP, it gives teachers a straightforward way to find suitable resources in one place. This can help reduce planning time, support staff confidence and make it easier to provide pupils with balanced, age-appropriate and inclusive materials. For schools reviewing their provision, Issues Online offers a flexible resource that can support curriculum planning, classroom discussion and wider work around pupil voice, representation and informed decision-making. 

The bigger picture 

Although the policy context differs across the UK, many of the themes shaping Scotland's RSHP debate are already well established elsewhere: relevance, inclusivity, progression, safeguarding, and the challenge of ensuring consistency in delivery. 

From an England-based PSHE publishing perspective, Scotland's policy journey illustrates how national guidance, curriculum interpretation and classroom resources interact over time. Whether or not a fully compulsory model is introduced, variation in RSHP delivery is still likely to be shaped by local priorities, staff confidence and the materials schools draw on. 

As policy continues to evolve, questions around consistency, teacher confidence and access to suitable resources are likely to remain part of the conversation in Scotland and beyond. 

Explore the Issues series 

The following volumes directly support RSHP and RSE delivery across secondary settings: 

Vol 424: Respectful Relationships: supports teaching around consent, communication, boundaries and healthy relationships. 

Vol 427: Sexism & Misogyny: explores the definition and real-world impact of sexism and misogyny, from gender stereotypes and street harassment to the rise of the manosphere and online influencers. 

Vol 432: Gender Equality: examines the current state of gender equality across work, politics and everyday life, covering the gender pay gap, childcare, the "motherhood penalty" and the obstacles that continue to hold women back, helping students understand both the progress made and the structural barriers that remain. 

Vol 438: Abortion & Pregnancy Options: covers the full range of pregnancy choices including adoption and abortion, examines the legal landscape across the UK and internationally, and presents a range of perspectives on reproductive rights, helping students engage thoughtfully with one of the most debated topics in contemporary society. 

Vol 449: Sexual Health & STIs: provides a comprehensive introduction to sexual health, covering consent, contraception, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and how to access support and services, giving students the factual grounding they need to make informed decisions about their health. 

Vol 459: Digital World: explores how the internet shapes everyday life, from algorithms and disinformation to social media's impact on human connection, helping students develop the critical thinking and digital literacy skills they need to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. 

Vol 472: Children's Rights: introduces students to the foundations of children's rights including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, covers protection, safeguarding and online safety, and explores how young people can find and use their voice, making it a valuable resource for embedding rights-based approaches across the curriculum. 

Vol 481: What Makes a Family? (new, out this summer): examines the many forms families take in modern life, from roles and relationships within the family unit to parenthood decisions, family breakdown and the effects of divorce and separation on young people, helping students reflect on family diversity and what family means in today's society. 

All titles are available in print and digitally via a subscription to Issues Online. 

Explore RSHP and RSE resources on Issues Online to support curriculum planning, classroom discussion and inclusive teaching across secondary settings. Request a tailored quote from Independence by emailing issues@independence.co.uk or by clicking here.