RSHP education guidance for Scotland published

Date: 12th December 2014
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'Conduct of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Education in Schools' guidance was published in December 2014 and refers explicitly to the UNCRC.

This is statutory guidance which replaces earlier guidance issued in 2001, reflecting the need for discussion of all types of relationships as part of RSHP education to acknowledge that as a result of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Act 2014 both opposite sex and same sex couples can marry.

The guidance applies to local authority managed schools and refers to teachers and schools throughout but it is also of relevance equally to other educational settings, whether formal or informal. It will be of interest to a range of educators, such as youth workers, residential care staff, nurses including school nurses, health improvement staff and specialist and generic third sector agencies.

The guidance provides a framework of delivery of RSHP education, provides the requirements for a positive ethos for RSHP education and notes the importance of taking the views of children and young people into account and informing and responding to parents and carers. The guidance outlines a commitment to ensuring that all children and young people receive high quality relationships, sexual health and parenthood education (RSHP) in order to respect, protect and fulfil their human rights as they grow up. It refers explicitly to fulfilling children's rights and considering the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)

Article 28 of the UNCRC recognises the right of every child to an education and Article 29 highlights the goals of education, both of which are explicit in the guidance. The guidance outlines the right to education and the right to confidentiality and the principles of Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC).

• Download the 'Conduct of Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood Education in Schools' guidance here.