Education, Northern Ireland Citation, commencement and extent 1 1 These Regulations may be cited as the Relationships and Sexuality Education (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2023. 2 Subject to paragraph (3), these Regulations come into force on 1st July 2023. 3 This paragraph, and to the extent that it relates to issuing guidance Article 10A of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 inserted by regulation 2, come into force on the day after the day on which these Regulations are made. 4 These Regulations extend to Northern Ireland. Amendment of the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 2 1 The Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 is amended as follows. 2 After Article 5(1) insert— 1A The curriculum for every grant-aided school shall, in relation to key stages 3 and 4, include age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion. . 3 After Article 10 insert— Relationships and Sexuality Education 10A 1 The Department must, by 1st January 2024, issue guidance on the content and delivery of the education required to be provided by virtue of Article 5(1A). 2 The guidance must be issued with a view to ensuring that— a pupils receive education on sexual and reproductive health and rights, covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion; and b the education received by pupils is age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate. 3 In exercising their functions as respects the school, the Board of Governors and principal of every grant-aided school must have regard to guidance issued under paragraph (1). 4 The Department may at any time revise its guidance under paragraph (1). 5 The Department must by regulations make provision about the circumstances in which, at the request of a parent, a pupil may be excused from receiving the education required to be provided by virtue of Article 5(1A), or specified elements of that education. 6 Before making regulations under paragraph (5), the Department must consult such persons as the Department considers appropriate. . Amendment of the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 3 1 The Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 is amended as follows. 2 In Schedule 2 (Specification of Minimum Content)— a In Part 5, in the Table headed “LEARNING FOR LIFE AND WORK: Personal Development”, at the end of the Column entitled “Relationships” insert— Receive age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion. . b In Part 6, under the heading “LEARNING FOR LIFE AND WORK”, at the end of the list under the subheading “Personal Development” insert— Receive age-appropriate, comprehensive and scientifically accurate education on sexual and reproductive health and rights covering prevention of early pregnancy and access to abortion. . Review of implementation of relationships and sexuality education 4 1 The Department of Education in Northern Ireland must, by 1st September 2026, publish a report on the implementation of relationships and sexuality education in grant-aided schools. 2 In preparing the report under paragraph (1), the Department of Education in Northern Ireland must consult— a the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland; b the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People; c the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and d such other persons as the Department of Education in Northern Ireland considers appropriate. 3 The Department of Education in Northern Ireland must lay the report before the Northern Ireland Assembly. Chris Heaton-Harris Secretary of State Northern Ireland Office 5th June 2023