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Relationships, Sex & Health Education (RSHE)
“I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
Parent Consultation
Relationships and Health Education have been statutory in primary schools since September 2021. Schools must consult parents at least every two years, or whenever changes are made. Our most recent consultation meeting was held on [date] July 2026. The presentation from the meeting is available on this page for anyone who could not attend.
Why we teach RSE
At St Benedict’s, our starting point is that every person is made in God’s image. Our RSE teaching educates the whole child: spiritually, physically, emotionally, morally and socially. It prepares children for healthy, loving relationships and for life in modern Britain, in the light of Jesus.
Our two programmes, working together
We teach RSE through two programmes that complement each other:
Jigsaw (PSHE): a mindful, whole-school approach that covers the statutory Relationships and Health Education curriculum. It is taught in weekly lessons through six units across the year: Being Me in My World, Celebrating Difference, Dreams and Goals, Healthy Me, Relationships and Changing Me. Each lesson begins with “Calm Me” time, and a class Jigsaw Charter, agreed with the children, sets the ground rules.
A Journey in Love: a Catholic programme approved by the Bishops of England and Wales. It explores one aspect of the mystery of love in each year group, from Nursery to Year 6. Children are encouraged to marvel at the wonder and beauty of God’s creative love as they grow physically, socially, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. A Journey in Love works alongside our Jigsaw lessons, especially the Changing Me unit.
Journey in Love themes by year group
Year Theme
Nursery: Wonder at God’s love
Reception: God loves each of us in our uniqueness
Year 1 We meet God’s love in our family
Year 2 We meet God’s love in the community
Year 3 How we live in love
Year 4 God loves us in our differences
Year 5 God loves me in my changing and development
Year 6 The wonder of God’s love in creating new life
What is taught about growing up and new life
Content is always age- and stage-appropriate:
Year 4: children learn that God loves us in our differences. One lesson, Having a Baby, looks at how a new life begins and how a baby grows in the womb.
Year 5: children learn about the changes that happen during puberty for both boys and girls, including menstruation.
Year 6: one lesson, Conception and Birth, explores the circle of love and life. It covers marriage as a sacrament, sexual intercourse as the gift of self within marriage, and how a baby grows before birth.
How we teach it
Lessons are taught by class teachers, with some sessions in single-sex groups. Children are naturally curious, so time for questions is built into lessons. Questions are answered with care, sensitively and appropriately for the child’s age. Parents will receive a letter before the sex education lessons take place.
Your role as parents and carers
You are the primary educators of your children. We encourage you to talk with your child at home about each lesson. All the resources we use can be viewed on this page. Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their child from sex education lessons. This does not include the statutory Relationships and Health Education content or the Science curriculum. If you wish to withdraw your child, or have any concerns, please contact the Headteacher.
