Updated RSHE Guidance: How can Bold Voices support?
The new RSHE guidance comes into effect in September 2026, replacing the 2019 RSE guidance, and bringing a welcome inclusion of misogyny and sexual violence prevention. What are some of the key updates and how can a Bold Voices approach and education help you deliver on these statutory requirements?
Addressing sexual harassment and sexual violence
New content has been introduced that includes looking at the role of online in perpetuating harms; topics include covering AI and deepfakes, sextortion, Incel ideology and online misogyny.
The new guidance is clear that sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention and education should be approached from a gendered perspective; with the recognition that while sexual violence can and does happen to anyone, girls and women are disproportionately the victims of this violence. This does not mean the experiences of sexual harm that men and boys have are excluded or ignored; it means being able to deliver a nuanced message about the patterns of sexual violence and why those patterns exist. A key approach that is named in the guidance that helps with this is a recognition that sexual harassment and sexual violence stems from wider attitudes and behaviours including; misogyny, sexism, homophobia and gender stereotypes. Placing sexual harm within the context of a culture is crucial for prevention work to be effective in schools, an approach that is embedded throughout our Bold Voices education.
Guiding Principles
A key addition to the new RSHE Guidance is the inclusion of seven guiding principles to support in the successful delivery of RSHE. We have highlighted a few below that are closely aligned with our approach at Bold Voices.
a) Engagement with pupils: An inclusive and well-sequenced RSHE curriculum should be informed by meaningful engagement with pupils to ensure that the curriculum is relevant and engaging.
Finding ways to implement a true asset-based approach to working with young people and putting their voices at the heart of RSHE and school culture is not easy. It takes time and young people must first be given the opportunities to build knowledge and skills for turning their experiences and thoughts into words. At Bold Voices we offer a range of programmes for engaging pupils and meaningfully putting them at the heart of creating change; take a look at our Mentor Programme and our Ambassador Programme (please note there are still fully funded spaces available on our Ambassador Programme - applications close on 3rd July 2026).
c) Positivity: Schools should focus on building positive attitudes and skills, promoting healthy norms about relationships, including sexual relationships where relevant, and about health, including mental health.
Many of the topics covered in RSHE can feel challenging and focused on harm, however finding ways to have preventative conversations about misogyny and gender-based violence that remind us building healthy relationships and cultures at school is just as much about embracing a positive, care-centred approach to community as it is to highlighting harm and violence. Even conversations about misogyny and gender-based violence don’t always need to feel heavy and hard to have. In fact, we know that prevention conversations can be engaging, light-hearted and even fun. Take a look at our 16 Conversation Cards centred around using pop culture to start prevention conversations with young people.
f) Skilled delivery of participative education: The curriculum should be delivered by school staff or, where schools choose to use them, external providers who have the knowledge, skills and confidence to create a safe and supportive environment and to facilitate participative and interactive education which aims to support and not to alarm pupils.
Talks and workshops delivered by our highly trained, knowledgeable facilitators; practiced in holding challenging conversations about misogyny and gender-based violence, can be a useful addition to RSHE delivered by staff. Staff training to support with building staff knowledge and confidence for recognising misogyny and gender-based violence and a challenge skillset for taking a prevention approach to challenging harmful ideas in line with the guidance that states “Where misogynistic ideas are expressed at school, staff should challenge the ideas, rather than the person expressing them.”
g) Whole school approach: The curriculum is best delivered as part of a whole school approach to wellbeing and positive relationships, supported by other school policies, including behaviour and safeguarding policies.
The Bold Voices whole school programme supports schools to embed misogyny and violence prevention throughout the school community, with a focus on empowering and centring youth voice to be at the core of prevention work. The updated RSHE guidance is a great place to start for schools with implementing education to prevent misogyny and gender-based violence however ensuring this is delivered alongside:
a wider curriculum that reflects a diverse range of experiences (see End Sexism in Schools for support with diversifying curriculums)
an intersectional approach that explores how different forms of discrimination intersect with each other from misogyny to homophobia, racism, transphobia and so on
school policies (including safeguarding, behavioural, uniform) that reflect a prevention approach
staff training that builds knowledge and confidence to challenge harmful ideas and behaviours; leading to a culture of calling in and empathy
continued learning and adaptation to the ways misogyny and gender-based violence affect young people
For support with all of the above please get in touch!