'Mum was inspiration behind grief lesson campaign'

At just 12 years old, John Adams lost his mum, Maria.

Although his father openly talked about death and grieving afterwards, Mr Adams found that in school, communication around the subject was "non-existent".

Becoming a funeral director at Perry & Phillips in his hometown of Bridgnorth, Shropshire, opened his eyes - he said adults appeared scared to get children involved in funerals, or to speak to them about death at all.

It was in 2022 that he started campaigning to get grieving education into the curriculum, and this week, he has achieved that goal.

On Tuesday, the Department for Education published its statutory guidance on relationships education, relationships and sex education and health education.

It said by the end of primary school, pupils should be taught that change, loss and bereavement can provoke a range of feelings, that grief is a natural response to bereavement, and that everyone grieves differently.

By the end of secondary school, they should be taught how families and relationships change over time, including through birth, death, separation and new relationships.

"I received a phone call on Tuesday," Mr Adams said, "to say it's happened and it's now going into the guidance, and to congratulate me."

"It's been relentless. I haven't stopped, it's become who I am. So it's a moment to pause and reflect on what's been achieved.

"I'm also aware there's more work to do now – it's about what it looks like in the curriculum."

It was a long road to this point - Mr Adams became president of the National Association of Funeral Directors in 2022, and spoke then about his goal.

"The idea of it, is that we have more of an idea of the emotions that are affiliated with when someone dies," he said.

"It's the only guarantee in life, and therefore we should be more informed about what these emotions are and how we deal with them."

In October 2022, he launched a parliamentary petition which amassed more than 11,000 signatures. It was debated in Parliament in December 2024.

"Having a base level within school, I recognise that's where it needs to start," he said.

"So, when these young people become adults, they have more awareness of knowing how to communicate about death dying and bereavement."

Looking ahead, Mr Adams has been asked to help shape how the subject is taught.

He told the BBC that the first steps would be to provide support and reassurance for teachers who would be delivering the education.

"The right sessions will come from that," he said.

Reflecting on the announcement, he said: "My mum, Maria, has been the fuel for the whole of this process and campaign – she's pushed me on.

"I hope that she'd be pleased and proud that despite being such a sad time when I was 12, that something good has come of it to help other people."

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