the educator mag Jan 26 - Flipbook - Page 31
The new RSHE guidance - a welcome step forward
but still with clouded vision
From September 2026, updated RSHE
guidance will be mandatory in schools
across England. As doctors working
closely with young people, we welcome
this update, which reflects recognition
that health education matters for life
outcomes, not just exams.
There is genuine progress but there is
also a growing gap between what
young people face daily and what
schools are asked to deliver, as their
health and wellbeing needs
continuously evolve at a rapid pace.
At the heart of effective RSHE is health
literacy - the ability to understand basic
health concepts, interpret information,
and apply it meaningfully. Without
these foundations, young people must
navigate complex, often contradictory
messages without the tools to judge
what is accurate, safe, or relevant.
Mental wellbeing: welcome
focus, limited direction
We strongly welcome the emphasis on
mental wellbeing rather than mental
illness. Teaching young people about
normal emotions, emotional literacy, and
coping strategies before crisis point is
where education can have its greatest
impact.
The inclusion of self-harm, eating
disorders and suicide prevention is a
positive and necessary step. However,
the guidance remains vague in how
these sensitive and complex topics
should be addressed. This places a
heavy burden on already stretched staff,
particularly without clearer frameworks
or training guidance.
Substances: a narrow lens in
a wider world
The substances section remains broad
and heavily weighted towards alcohol
and tobacco. While these remain
important, young people today
encounter a far wider range of
substances, including so-called “legal
highs”, or drugs framed online as
harmless, wellness-enhancing or
socially acceptable. Without
acknowledging this reality, education
risks feeling outdated, as young people
are already receiving information (and
misinformation) from social media and
peers. Schools need to equip young
people to critically appraise what they
see, rather than just warn about
substances their parents grew up with.
Nutrition, body image and
misinformation
Healthy eating is included, but the focus
leans heavily towards unhealthy weight
gain. There is little acknowledgement of
online wellness culture, restrictive
eating trends, excessive exercise or
fear-based food messaging.
Young people navigate an online world
of conflicting advice, influencers, and
algorithm-driven content. Without
understanding the body or how content
is shaped, they remain vulnerable to
misinformation rather than empowered
by education.
As doctors, we commonly see young
people asking if they are normal as they
lack this basic knowledge. This gap has
real consequences for anxiety, selfesteem, relationships and help-seeking
behaviour.
Where the guidance truly
shines
There are areas where the new RSHE
guidance is very encouraging. The focus
on critical appraisal skills, particularly
around online misinformation, is
essential. Young people are growing up
in a world profoundly different from that
experienced by the generations before
them. Teaching them how to think, not
just what to think, is one of the most
valuable roles education can play.
The strengthened emphasis on online
safety is also excellent, reflecting the
central role digital life plays in
wellbeing, relationships and identity.
Is RSHE the full answer?
Sleep: telling them what
without explaining why
The updated RSHE guidance is a step in
the right direction, but it is not enough
on its own.
Sleep is rightly recognised as important.
However, simply telling young people
that sleep matters, or listing what they
should do is rarely effective. Teaching
the science of sleep is more powerful.
When young people understand the
biology of the circadian rhythm they are
more likely to engage in healthy
behaviours, rather than feeling directed
or judged.
Young people’s health and wellbeing
needs are expanding and changing
rapidly - shaped by technology, social
pressures, misinformation and evolving
cultural norms. Meeting those needs
requires strong foundations in health
literacy and confidence to teach
complex topics safely.
Women’s health: still
overlooked
While contraception and the mention of
gynaecological conditions is a welcome
inclusion, women’s health remains
underrepresented. There is little
meaningful discussion of menstrual
health, hormonal changes, or the normal
anatomy and function of genitals. These
omissions matter, as misinformation
often fills the gap and can cause harm,
particularly when pornography is
involved.
As doctors, we see the consequences
when gaps are left unaddressed. But we
also see the opportunity. When health
education is grounded in science and
real-world relevance, it can be
genuinely transformative, not just for
young people, but also for the schools
supporting them.
Drs Chris & Suzy Peach
