AQW 4423/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 11/10/2022
Answered On Date: 26/10/2022
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Education (i) to outline the process for ensuring Relationships and Sex Education is part of the curriculum and delivered in all schools from all sectors; and (ii) whether this requires additional funding to deliver effectively.

Answer:

Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) is already a compulsory part of the Personal Development and Mutual Understanding area of learning in primary schools and the Learning for Life and Work area of learning in post-primary schools. It is a matter for schools to decide what and how they teach a range of curricular issues across all areas of learning provided they meet the legal minimum requirements set out in legislation. A school’s teaching of RSE should reflect its ethos and RSE policy which should be agreed by its Board of Governors in consultation with parents and pupils.

The Education and Training Inspectorate, through its inspection of child protection and safeguarding policies and practices, routinely assesses whether or not schools have an appropriate policy for the delivery of RSE within the curriculum.

Funding for the delivery of RSE in schools, as with any curricular subject, is provided through the Common Funding Formula. Schools are therefore responsible for meeting the cost of delivering the curriculum from within their delegated budgets.