Sex education for 14- to 15-year-olds will explicitly warn that intentionally strangling or suffocating a sexual partner amounts to a criminal offence and can carry a custodial sentence, under new resources published to support the updated statutory Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum.
What the new lessons cover
The materials, developed by Oak National Academy and backed by the Government, are designed to help teachers deliver the new guidance that becomes statutory in September. They aim to equip pupils with knowledge on consent, personal boundaries and how to spot toxic relationship behaviours.
- Criminal warning: pupils will be told that intentionally strangling or suffocating another person during sex is a crime carrying a potential prison term.
- Consent and defences: the resources clarify that an accused cannot simply rely on consent as a blanket defence in such cases; legal defences do not apply if serious harm occurs or is intended or the accused was reckless.
- Relationship skills: lessons also focus on setting boundaries, avoiding assumptions of ‘blanket consent’, and identifying abusive behaviours such as phone snooping and gaslighting.
- Cultural context: the materials address concerns about the normalisation of choking and the influence of online groups referred to as the 'manosphere' and incel subcultures.
Legal detail supplied within teaching resources
The resources explain the legal position around consent and harm. They note there is a possible legal defence if an accused shows an alleged victim consented to an act that affects breathing, but this defence does not apply when the victim suffers serious harm, or the accused intended or was reckless as to causing serious harm.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Target pupil age | 14–15 years |
| Becoming statutory | September |
| Maximum custodial sentence mentioned | Up to five years |
"Misogynistic views are not innate, they are learned, and we are using every possible tool to achieve our mission of halving violence against women and girls."
The Schools Minister framed the resources as part of a wider aim to challenge harmful myths and behaviours early. Oak National Academy, which produced the lessons, said the materials would support teachers to tackle the “growing influence of the manosphere and incel culture” and to address concerns about the normalisation of choking among young people.
What this means for teachers, pupils and parents
From a practical viewpoint, schools will be required to teach the updated RSHE content when the statutory guidance is in force. The Oak materials give teachers structured content they can adopt or adapt in the classroom. For parents and carers, the resources set out explicit language and legal facts that may assist conversations at home about consent, safety and online influences.
The emphasis on explaining legal defences and the limits of consent is likely to change how some subjects are discussed in class, with a sharper focus on the potential criminal consequences of specific sexual behaviours as well as the social and emotional elements of healthy relationships.
Teachers will need to balance delivering clear legal information with safeguarding responsibilities and appropriate pastoral support for pupils who may be affected by the topics. Schools are expected to use the materials to facilitate safe, confident conversations that respect pupils’ welfare.
As the next school year approaches, the availability of Government-backed lesson plans aims to ensure a consistent approach across classrooms to address an issue that officials and educators have identified as an increasing concern.
