A complete, trusted RSHE (PSHE) curriculum, designed to help schools meet statutory expectations with clarity and confidence

As schools are expected to follow the updated statutory guidance for RSHE from September 2026, many teachers are taking the opportunity to review, refresh and strengthen their curriculum before the changes take effect.

RSHE plays a vital role in keeping pupils safe, healthy and prepared for life beyond school. But we also know it can be one of the most challenging areas of the curriculum to plan and deliver well.

Oak’s free, adaptable RSHE curriculum and lesson resources have been developed to help schools meet expectations with confidence. Created in partnership with subject experts Life Lessons and following engagement with a wide range of expert organisations, they are designed to support high-quality, trusted RSHE education for every pupil.

Explore the curriculum:

• RHE (PSHE) curriculum key stages 1-2
• RSHE (PSHE) curriculum key stages 3-4

A curriculum aligned with new statutory guidance

Oak’s RSHE curriculum is fully aligned with the updated statutory guidance coming into effect from September 2026. It includes new content on areas such as vaping and nicotine pouches (see the year 5 lesson The facts about smoking and vaping), women’s health, HIV prevention, online harms, gambling, (see the year 9 lesson Online gambling in the unit Media influence: How can I look after myself?), knives and weapons (see the year 9 lesson Knife crime in the unit Staying safe: what do I need to know about knife crime?) and misogyny.

This content has been developed with input from the Department of Health and Social Care, leading medical professionals and expert charities, so schools can be confident that what they are teaching is accurate and appropriate.

Because the curriculum is planned from year 1 through to year 11, it helps ensure progression and coherence across phases, supporting pupils to build knowledge and understanding over time.

Teaching RSHE with confidence and care

RSHE lessons often involve sensitive topics and complex conversations. Our new resources are designed to help teachers feel secure and supported when delivering them.

Each lesson includes ground rules, signposting and practical teacher tips. Where appropriate, lessons include built-in safeguarding guidance and content warnings.

There is also a strong focus on safety throughout the curriculum. This includes content on avoiding hazards, such as level crossings in this year 3 lesson Staying safe near railways, staying safe in unfamiliar contexts (such as the first time a young person goes on holiday without their parents), and teaching pupils how to ask for advice or help for themselves or others, and to keep trying until they are heard.

We have online safety and media influence units in our curriculum from year 1 to year 11, with age-appropriate lessons covering social media influence, identifying and reporting harmful content and balancing time spent online.

Content focuses on a range of developments in how young people behave online, such as this year 5 lesson Understanding online influencers from the unit ​​Media influence: Who decides what I experience in the online world? Other areas covered include how AI chatbots exemplify the rapid development of AI, and how they can pose risks by creating a false sense of intimacy or offering harmful advice, as well as how people may curate a specific image of their life online.

Flexible, free and easy to use

Oak’s RSHE curriculum and lesson resources are free to access and adaptable to suit different school contexts. You can use them flexibly across timetabled RSHE lessons, form or tutor time, workshops or assemblies.

Because the full curriculum is available in one place, schools can save significant time on planning, and plan ahead with confidence – knowing resources are fully up to date with the latest guidance.

Materials can be shared openly with parents and carers, helping schools meet statutory expectations and build trust by giving families clear visibility of what their children are learning.

RHE (PSHE) support for primary schools

Oak’s primary resources are designed to support you no matter your level of expertise. We have units which focus on emotions throughout our primary curriculum. These lessons support pupils’ understanding of their own emotions and of others. Through the curriculum, pupils develop strategies to build their emotional toolkit, making sure they’re prepared for the transition to secondary school.

Updated content for secondary schools

Our secondary curriculum also reflects the new changes to the statutory guidance.

For example, we have content about women’s health conditions, including endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), for example this lesson Menstruation and how to access support, in the unit Our changing bodies: When might I need to seek support?. We have also included information about the HIV prevention drugs Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), in the year 9 lesson Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Adapt your lessons with AI tools

Aila, our AI-powered lesson assistant, makes it easier for schools to adapt RSHE lessons so they reflect their own policy, community and pupils, as emphasised in the updated statutory guidance. Rather than starting from scratch, teachers can use AI to adjust existing Oak lessons while keeping the core learning intentions and safeguarding principles intact. By helping teachers tailor lessons quickly and thoughtfully, Oak’s AI tools support confident, compliant RSHE delivery that works for real classrooms.

Oak’s RSHE curriculum and lesson resources are designed to help schools navigate change with confidence. Aligned with the updated statutory guidance and developed with trusted experts, they offer a flexible approach to RSHE from year 1 to year 11. By saving time, supporting teachers at every level of expertise and keeping pupils safe and supported, Oak helps schools deliver high-quality RSHE that meets new expectations while staying true to what matters most for children and young people.

If you’re interested to find out more about using our curriculum, or have questions about how it could work in your school or trust, let us know using this form, and we'll be in touch.