Need for stronger RSE guarantees as provision remains inconsistent say NI Humanists

Northern Ireland Humanists has called for stronger guarantees from the Department of Education (DoE) for every young person to receive comprehensive relationships and sexuality education (RSE), after a new DoE report found that provision remains inconsistent between schools.

The report reviewed reforms introduced in 2023 which required pupils at Key Stages 3 and 4 to receive age-appropriate, comprehensive, and scientifically accurate RSE, including on sexual and reproductive health and rights, early pregnancy prevention, and access to abortion. At the time, Northern Ireland Humanists told the DoE that RSE must be ‘factually accurate and scientifically grounded’.

While the DoE says there has been ‘clear progress’, the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) reported that the teaching of RSE is still inconsistent across schools, particularly on consent, child sexual exploitation, and domestic and sexual abuse. It found that 44% of schools taught consent only to a small extent or not at all. The DoE also acknowledges that the current curriculum gives schools considerable flexibility, meaning pupils of the same age can receive very different content.

The findings come as the DoE consults on its Northern Ireland Curriculum 2028. Northern Ireland Humanists has said pupils should receive a consistent education regardless of where they live or which school they attend, with flexibility over how content is taught but not whether essential content is covered. The DoE says Curriculum 2028 is intended to address existing inconsistencies, with explicit provision on consent, contraception, sexual and reproductive health, and abortion.

In its consultation response, Northern Ireland Humanists broadly welcomed the proposed Personal, Social, Civic and Careers (PSCC) subject which would incorporate RSE – although it said a separate RSE subject would be preferable. It also called for a clearer RSE entitlement with minimum requirements across every school, and that RSE and PSCC should remain compulsory to age 16, with no ‘faith-based carve-outs’ allowing essential content to be omitted, diluted, or taught through a particular religious perspective.

Northern Ireland Humanists Coordinator Boyd Sleator said:

‘Every young person should be entitled to accurate, comprehensive relationships and sex education, regardless of which school they attend. However, as the DoE’s own report shows, when statutory expectations are too broad, pupils can receive a very different education depending on their school. Flexibility should be about how RSE is taught, not whether essential content is taught at all.

‘The new curriculum is an opportunity to fix this. The final PSCC framework must provide a clear and coherent RSE entitlement through to the age of 16, with minimum requirements applying equally in every school and no faith-based carve-outs allowing essential content to be omitted or diluted.’

Northern Ireland Humanists also urged the DoE to make science compulsory to age 16, protect the teaching of evolution from religious interference, and make sure that implementation is backed by strong teacher training, resources, and independent inspection. The 2028 Curriculum Consultation is open until 30 September.