The principles are:

• intended to convey the essence of what is currently understood as effective school practice, without prescribing a specific set of actions or procedures within a school
• informed by, and support, evidence-based practice. They have been developed using current research and evaluation of effective curriculum practice.
• designed to be broad and generic. They embrace fundamental and general guidelines for effective school sexuality and sexual health education and need to be understood and applied within the local context of the school community and its specific needs and priorities.
• designed to overlap and inform each other and are best understood and applied in a holistic and integrated manner
• embedded within a broader health promotion approach. They are consistent with broader principles for the promotion of physical, mental and social health and wellbeing within school communities.