About
What SRHE is — and what it isn't
We think it's important to be upfront. Here's what we're actually doing, and where we are right now.
Why we exist
SRHE began with a simple question: why isn't there a measurable standard for how sexual and reproductive health education is delivered to 16–18 year olds in England once compulsory RSE ends?
The more we looked, the clearer it became that the gap is real — and that the academics trying to deliver good RSE in post-16 settings are often doing it without a shared framework, without a professional community, and without any way to benchmark what "good" looks like.
SRHE is an attempt to start building those things. We're a network, not a regulator or an accreditation body. We can't make anyone do anything. What we can do is develop a standards framework that's actually usable, share guidance that's grounded in evidence, and create a space where academics can connect and contribute.
Where we are right now
We're in the process of registration as a company limited by guarantee. That means we're not yet a formal organisation — we're working towards it. Membership isn't open yet. The standards framework is in early draft. We're being transparent about this because we think it matters: we'd rather be honest about being at the start than overstate what we are.
Our immediate priorities are completing registration, opening membership, and publishing an initial draft of the standards framework for consultation with the network.
Who we want to hear from
If you work in RSE in a 16+ setting — whether that's a sixth form, FE college, or anywhere else — we want to hear from you. The standards framework will only be useful if it reflects what academics actually need, and we can't get that right without input from people doing the work.
We're also interested in hearing from researchers, public health professionals, and students with an interest in this area. There's no bar to entry. If this matters to you, you're welcome here.
Key facts
- Stage
- In the process of registration
- Legal form
- Company limited by guarantee (England & Wales) — pending
- Origin
- Founded to close a gap in post-16 RSE standards
- Focus
- RSE in 16+ settings, England
- Type
- Network — not an association, society, or regulator
- Membership
- Not yet open
- Contact
- info@srhe.net
What we stand for
- Measurable, evidence-informed standards — not aspirational statements
- Open access — no credentials or membership fees to access guidance
- A network shaped by its members, not top-down
- A rights-based approach to SRH education
- Inclusive practice across gender, sexuality, culture, and disability
- Transparency about what we are and what we aren't
What SRHE is not
- A regulator — we have no enforcement powers
- An accreditation body — we don't certify individuals or organisations
- A registered charity or company (yet)
- A replacement for statutory RSE guidance from DfE