Relationships and sexuality education aims to give children and young people the information they need to feel positive about themselves and develop healthy relationships.

It includes learning about human biology, relationships and social issues. Our guidance for schools encourages a holistic approach. This part of the curriculum supports mental, physical and emotional development.

An important part of the New Zealand Curriculum

Learning about relationships and sexuality is part of Health and Physical Education within the curriculum. It is part of a wider health curriculum that includes topics like mental health, safety and violence prevention, and learning about food and nutrition.

The curriculum is used in all state and state-integrated schools in New Zealand. Health and Physical Education, including learning about relationships and sexuality, is compulsory from Year 0 to Year 10.

What do children learn?

In early primary school, tamariki | children may learn:

• how to have healthy friend relationships
• what consent means, through examples like asking for turns and sharing toys
• what having respect for others and themselves means
• how their bodies grow and develop.

In the later primary years and at intermediate school, students may learn about puberty and body development, and the basics of human reproduction. They might start to learn about different types of relationships, and risks and issues relating to the internet and social media.

At secondary school rangatahi | young people are likely to learn about:

• intimate relationships
• contraception
• managing their health
• cultural approaches to gender and sexuality
• where they can find strategies and resources that support their health and wellbeing
• the influence society has on the way we view things like gender and sexuality.

Children build on learning throughout their school years

Learning about forming healthy, safe relationships and respect for others is part of normal teaching in every year group.

By starting this learning in the early years of school, children will build on their knowledge and be better prepared for more complex learning at secondary school.

If children have had the chance to learn about their bodies and healthy relationships early, they will have the language and knowledge to talk about and navigate these topics later. They will be equipped with more tools to keep themselves safe and healthy.

Creating a safe and inclusive environment

Relationship and sexuality education helps build a safe and inclusive physical and emotional environment for everybody in the school and the wider community.

It creates opportunities to learn about the complexity of human relationships and sexuality. This includes issues related to:

• gender and identity
• communication
• safety
• attraction, expectations and consent
• ethics and values.

Schools are adapting to address the kinds of challenges young people face. This includes social media, media representations and online behaviour.

Learning about puberty, human reproduction and sexual health

At one point during the school year, your child's class may focus on learning about puberty, human reproduction, contraception and managing their own sexual health.

When these classes are held, and what is taught, depends on your child's age, the school and your community. Often, relationships and sexuality topics will be taught near the end of the school year, when teachers know their ākonga | students best. That way, the class will be more comfortable to ask questions and hold discussions.

Before this learning happens, your school will let you know. This could be in a notice sent home with your child, an email, an online message or in the school newsletter.

You can always ask your child's teacher for more information about what will be taught and how.

At high school, students in Years 11 to 13 may only be taught about these topics if they take subjects relating to health, such as physical education.

Who teaches your child

Normally your child's usual teacher will teach topics about relationships and sexual health.

Sometimes, other providers will be brought in to help teach some topics. This is decided by the school depending on the needs of students and the community. An example of such a provider is the Life Education Trust.

If you do not want your child to attend

If you do not want your child to be in class during relationships and sexuality education lessons for any reason, you can ask the school by writing to the principal. You will get a written reply from the principal. The principal has to make sure your child is supervised during the time they are out of class.

If a question is raised by students relating to sexuality education during any other part of the school year, the teacher and principal does not have to exclude your child while the question is answered.

The Education and Training Act 2020 outlines your rights to withdraw your child from the lessons.

Release from tuition for specified parts of health curriculum – New Zealand Legislation

Community input

Every school board has to consult with their local community about how they plan to teach relationships and sexuality topics at their school. This must be done at least every 2 years. Some schools do it more often.

Community consultation could be done in-person during a meeting or as part of a school event. It may also be a survey or email sent to school whānau | families.

Anyone in the community can have input, even if they do not go to the school. This can include iwi, early childhood services linked to your school, or local non-government organisations and agencies.

Health education statement

After the community has been consulted, the board has to write a statement about health education at their school. This is a requirement under the Education and Training Act 2020. The statement should be made available so anyone can see it. When it is completed, the final statement should be sent to school families and published on the school website for anyone to see.