Relationships and sex education: guidelines for working with external agencies

Visitors and external agencies can play a valuable role in supporting schools to deliver high‑quality Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE). Their involvement can enrich lessons by bringing specialist knowledge, real‑world experience and engaging approaches that complement, but do not replace, the work of trained school staff.

Schools remain responsible for the curriculum and must ensure that any visitor’s contribution aligns with their RSHE policy, is age‑appropriate, accurate, unbiased and safe. This includes reviewing materials in advance, ensuring alignment with statutory guidance, and confirming that visitors understand safeguarding expectations. External providers should support a safe, participative learning environment and work within the school’s agreed procedures.

When used well, visitors can enhance pupils’ learning, offer specialist perspectives, and help address local needs, however this must be within a planned, sequenced curriculum which is led and overseen by the school.

DfE: Relationships and Sex Education and Health Education: Statutory Guidance