Sexual abuse toolkit: teaching resources (secondary)
This toolkit brings together a range of curriculum resources, guidance and support services to help secondary schools deliver high-quality relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), strengthening their whole-school approach to safeguarding.
Schools play a vital role in helping young people develop the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to build healthy, respectful relationships; recognise abuse and exploitation; challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours; and know when and how to seek support. Effective RSHE contributes to the prevention of sexual harassment, sexual violence, harmful sexual behaviour, child sexual exploitation, abuse within relationships and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). It also supports pupils to navigate an increasingly complex online world, including issues related to pornography, image sharing, online coercion, misogyny, AI-generated content and other forms of digital harm.
The resources and guidance featured on this page have been selected to support schools in delivering age-appropriate, evidence-informed and inclusive learning. Some resources have been produced over several years and schools should review materials before use to ensure that language, terminology, legal references and content remain aligned with current statutory guidance, safeguarding expectations and local priorities.
Key Reading:
Gov.UK/government/publications/keeping-children-safe-in-education--2
This page includes:
- Curriculum planning and lesson resource signposts
- Teaching materials on consent, healthy relationships and sexual harassment
- Resources to support prevention of harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
- Online safety and digital sexual harms resources
- Details of external partner organisations and HCC pathways to support
- Hertfordshire support services and referral pathways for children, young people, families and professionals
Schools are encouraged to use these materials as part of a planned, developmental RSHE curriculum alongside robust safeguarding systems, pupil voice, staff training and clear reporting pathways. Preventative education is most effective when embedded within a whole-school culture that promotes respect, equality, safety and inclusion.
For further support from our Lead RSHE/PSHE and Wellbeing Adviser please contact: Tracey.Harper@hfleducation.org
Services available are accessible: HFLEducation.org: Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) and Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education
Funded training is available here: RSHE: VAWG prevention and HSB awareness briefing for schools | 21 September 2026
Secondary resource links and signposts:
This secondary sexual abuse resource map supports secondary schools to deliver carefully sequenced, age and stage appropriate RSHE, within a whole school safeguarding approach. Schools should always quality assure materials and external providers against statutory guidance, pupil need, SEND accessibility, equality duties, parent transparency and local safeguarding procedures, with DSL oversight where teaching may prompt concerns or disclosures.
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Additional HCC Resource
Access further RSHE (2026) sexual health resources and safeguarding support for secondary and post-16 schools: Publichealth.hertscc.Gov.UK: RSHE guidance