15 January 2026
by Shelly Khaled: Head of Programmes, LMK
If you’re a teacher and feeling unsure where to begin with the new RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) guidance coming into effect in September 2026, you’re not alone. Many educators are already thinking about how to deliver lessons that truly resonate with pupils while aligning with Ofsted standards.
That’s why we’ve created LMK’s free Classroom Conversation Starters as part of our new Conversation Space. These simple, easy-to-use, practical activities were co-created with young people and are designed to help teachers open conversations that actually feel real, safe, and meaningful in the classroom.
Why real‑life examples matter in RSHE lessons?
One of the biggest challenges teachers tell us about is making RSHE feel relevant, rather than abstract or disconnected from pupils’ lives.
Each Classroom Conversation Starter draws on real situations, media moments, and the experiences young people actually face, making the activities authentic and engaging. By linking core RSHE themes – such as respect, boundaries, consent, and kindness – to everyday experiences, these resources help pupils understand why RSHE matters and how it applies to their own lives.
When young people recognise themselves in a lesson, something shifts. They stop performing the ‘right answers’ and start reflecting on their own experiences – that’s where real learning begins.
What’s new in the RSHE 2026 guidance?
The updated guidance encourages RSHE to be a consistent part of school life, emphasising pupil engagement, coherent sequencing and relevance to young people’s lives. Key priorities include:
- Broader, contemporary content: New themes such as online harms and digital relationships are now part of the curriculum.
- Pupil voice and sequenced learning: Schools are expected to show how learning builds over time and reflects young people’s experiences and concerns.
- Embedded, meaningful provision: RSHE should support personal development and be clearly integrated across wider school priorities.
How LMK’s resources help?
Our Classroom Conversation Starters offer practical ways to bring this guidance to life today by helping you:
- Connect learning to life: Activities prompt pupils to recognise how themes like respect, boundaries and consent show up in daily situations and media.
- Build structured, impactful lessons: Lessons are framed around LMK’s 10 Signs, providing clear progression and skill-building.
- Encourage critical thinking: Pupils are prompted to explore scenarios thoughtfully and build confidence in discussing personal and relational themes.
You may also like: Celebrations & social pressure
Celebrations, school prom, social gatherings, and other key moments throughout the year can be exciting for students – but they can also bring new pressures around expectations, belonging, and fitting in.
This ready-to-use KS4-5 activity supports students to explore:
- social pressure and group dynamics
- boundaries and personal choice
- kindness and looking out for others
- respectful behaviour in shared social spaces.
Coming soon: New in-school RSHE workshops
We’re also developing a new series of Continuing the Conversation (CTC) workshops, co-designed with young people. These sessions will explore advanced topics – such as misogyny and power in relationships – building on the foundations laid by the 10 Signs of Healthy Relationships programme.
At LMK, we believe every young person deserves the language, confidence and support to navigate relationships safely, and every teacher/ support Staff deserves resources that make that possible without fear, discomfort, or guesswork.
Find out more about how LMK’s ‘10 signs’ workshops can support your RSHE lesson delivery.