Education Secretary Justine Greening announced today that Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) is to become compulsory in all of England’s schools.
Amendments to the Children and Social Work Bill will place a duty on the Secretary of State for Education to make regulations requiring:
- All primary schools in England to teach age-appropriate ‘relationships education’; and
- All secondary schools in England to teach age-appropriate ‘relationships and sex education’
- And will create a power enabling the Government to make regulations requiring PSHE to be taught in academies and maintained schools
Responding to the announcement, Denise Hatton, Chief Executive of the National Council of YMCAs in England and Wales, said:
“We live in a multimedia age where young people face increasing dangers and pressures when it comes to their personal relationships and bodies. Previous Sex and Relationships Education fell shockingly short in teaching children and young people about modern day risks.
“Young people have consistently told us that relationship and sex education should include exploring issues such as domestic violence, overcoming breakups, an understanding of respect and the different types of relationships.
“Gaining this knowledge from an early age and more in-depth at secondary schools will strengthen young people’s awareness and resilience as they progress into adulthood. Alongside equipping them with an understating of the good and bad signs of a relationship, we hope they will also learn that you do not have to be in a relationship to be happy.”