Sex education planned for primary pupils

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The government has announced plans for primary school children to be given compulsory sex and relationship lessons.

Setting out the findings of a government review into sex and drugs education, schools minister Jim Knight said the lessons would be compulsory for those aged between five and 16.

The review was started after concerns were raised that teaching in the subjects was too patchy.

Under the proposals, children will learn about parts of the body and the effects of drugs from age five, and will have lessons on puberty from the age of seven.

Knight said he wanted "to be clear we're not talking about five-year-olds being taught about sex".

But he said that personal social and health education (PSHE) "should be supported by a statutory programme of study in order to give it an increased status in schools and with school leaders".

He added: "At Key Stage 1 [children] will be learning about themselves, their differences, their friendships, how to have strong friendships and how to manage their feelings.

"That then allows them in Key Stage 2 to learn about puberty and then about the facts of life, all these sorts of matters."

The Department for Children, Schools and Families said the review identified "a need to challenge the perception that sex and relationships education happened in a 'moral vacuum' in schools".

And it recommends that teachers are given specific training, with all schools in England following a "high-level programme of study".

Review

Head teacher Sir Alasdair MacDonald will lead a new review into how best to make PSHE lessons compulsory.

And Knight said that Sir Alasdair will advise the government on whether parents should be able to take their child out of certain lessons.

"I think it's important for individual parents' views to be taken into account in some of these sensitive areas and their right to withdraw from parts of education in those areas that they do not feel comply with their moral views and beliefs and that they will be better dealing with in the home," he said.

"That would be something that would take us a lot of persuading to move away from."

A recent poll carried out by the UK Youth Parliament found that of 20,000 11- to 18-year-olds, only a quarter are receiving good sex and relationships education.

Youth Parliament member Katrina Mather, 16, said: "Young people want to make healthy and informed decisions about sex and relationships, but until now, too many have been let down by the education system.

"The government's decision to listen to young people and ensure good quality sex and relationships education is a huge step forward and one that is supported by young people throughout the country."

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