Overview

This bill aims to increase transparency in Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) lessons in English schools. It mandates that schools share RSE materials with parents and prohibits the use of unpublished external resources.

Description

The Relationships and Sex Education (Transparency) Bill requires schools in England to provide parents with access to all materials used in RSE lessons. Schools can share these materials via school websites (publicly accessible or requiring parent registration), or by providing physical or digital copies. The bill defines "materials" broadly, including textbooks, visual aids, and teacher preparation materials (excluding individual lesson plans). The bill also prohibits schools from using externally produced RSE materials unless they have been published; "published" is defined as being freely available online, sold through retailers, or available for a fee no more than 10% of the school's purchase price for private, non-commercial use. Any contract terms limiting compliance with the Act are void. Contracts providing materials are interpreted as authorizing actions necessary for compliance with the Act. The bill defines "parent" and "school authorities" and specifies its extent (England and Wales) and immediate commencement.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending. The implementation costs for schools to comply (e.g., website updates, copying materials) are likely to be borne by the schools themselves, though potential support from central or local government is possible, but currently unquantified.

Groups Affected

• Parents: Gain greater access to the content of their children's RSE lessons, potentially leading to increased involvement and oversight.
• Schools: Face increased administrative burdens to comply with the sharing requirements and restrictions on using unpublished materials, impacting resource allocation and potentially lesson planning.
• RSE Material Providers: Those providing unpublished materials will experience limitations on their market unless they make their resources publicly available according to the bill's definitions.
• Pupils: The bill's impact on pupils is indirect, mainly through their parents’ increased access to RSE materials.

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