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Relationship lessons from age 5 | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Lessons about personal, social and health matters including sex and relationships are going to be compulsory in all England's schools. | |
But the government is setting up a review of how best to achieve this, saying there are "complicated issues". | But the government is setting up a review of how best to achieve this, saying there are "complicated issues". |
Schools Minister Jim Knight said this would factor in the ethos of schools, pupils' needs and parents' values. | Schools Minister Jim Knight said this would factor in the ethos of schools, pupils' needs and parents' values. |
A BBC poll of more than 1,000 people found two thirds would support sex lessons from the age of 11. | A BBC poll of more than 1,000 people found two thirds would support sex lessons from the age of 11. |
Reviews of education about sex and relationships and about drugs and alcohol were ordered after ministers said teaching was "patchy". | |
What they have not yet given is any detail of what compulsory personal, social and health education (PSHE) will involve. | What they have not yet given is any detail of what compulsory personal, social and health education (PSHE) will involve. |
New guidance | New guidance |
The Department for Children, Schools and Families said the review of sex lessons had identified "a need to challenge the perception that sex and relationships education happened in a 'moral vacuum' in schools and says that parents and schools can and should work together to decide how best topics should be taught." | The Department for Children, Schools and Families said the review of sex lessons had identified "a need to challenge the perception that sex and relationships education happened in a 'moral vacuum' in schools and says that parents and schools can and should work together to decide how best topics should be taught." |
It said updated guidance would also be produced covering the content of the PSHE curriculum, based on the existing non-statutory programme. | It said updated guidance would also be produced covering the content of the PSHE curriculum, based on the existing non-statutory programme. |
A secondary school sex education class. | A secondary school sex education class. |
Lessons should be "age appropriate". In primary schools, Sir Jim Rose would look at how PSHE should best be delivered as part of his ongoing review of the curriculum. | Lessons should be "age appropriate". In primary schools, Sir Jim Rose would look at how PSHE should best be delivered as part of his ongoing review of the curriculum. |
The new review of how to make PSHE compulsory will be led by a head teacher, Sir Alasdair MacDonald. | The new review of how to make PSHE compulsory will be led by a head teacher, Sir Alasdair MacDonald. |
Mr Knight told BBC News: "We are not suggesting that five and six-year-olds should be taught sex. | |
"What we are saying is we need to improve in particular the relationship education and the moral framework and understanding in which we later talk about sex education." | |
'Wickedness' | |
He said what schools would have to follow would be a high-level "programme of study". But it would still be up to schools to decide what to teach. | |
"Faith groups for example will want to produce their own guidance on top of our guidance, on how they should deliver that programme of study in a way that's sympathetic to their beliefs." | |
Some are not reassured. The national director of Christian Voice, Stephen Green, said the proposals would only encourage experimentation and contribute to the rise in teenage pregnancy and infertility. | |
He said the idea of teaching young children about sex is "a wickedness" from a government that wants to see "a whole generation fornicating". | |
But the chief executive of the sexual health charity Brook, Simon Blake, said: "The news today that personal, social health education (PSHE) is to be made a statutory part of the national curriculum is absolutely brilliant." | |
He added: "Now, at last, we can put the systems in place to give teachers and others the training and support they need to work effectively in partnership with children, young people and their parents." | |
Consultation | |
The sex education teaching requirements placed on schools at present are limited. | |
BBC/NOP POLL 87% say sex and relationship lessons should be compulsory 36% say no lessons on contraception before 13 | |
In primary schools, sex education is covered as part of the science curriculum. | |
This tells children about the main body parts and explains that reproduction is one of the life processes common to all animals including humans. | |
HAVE YOUR SAYA child given a frank education on sex and relationships may be more likely to have sex, but they are also more likely to approach it in a mature manner, with regards to pregnancy and STDs. James, BelfastSend us your comments | |
In secondary school, again mainly through science lessons, children cover the human reproductive cycle, including adolescence, fertilisation and foetal development. | |
They may also learn - though there is no statutory requirement that they should - about relationship skills, rights and responsibilities and different types of relationships. | |
Sexual activity, human reproduction, contraception, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections and risky behaviours are all optional elements. | |
Schools are meant to consult parents about what is taught. | |
In Wales, sex and relationship education is already part of the curriculum and it is a legal requirement in Northern Ireland. | In Wales, sex and relationship education is already part of the curriculum and it is a legal requirement in Northern Ireland. |
There is no legal requirement in Scotland. | There is no legal requirement in Scotland. |
The UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe with 27 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19. | The UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe with 27 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19. |
The UK Youth Parliament says four out of 10 young people say they received no relationship education at school. | The UK Youth Parliament says four out of 10 young people say they received no relationship education at school. |
'Greater involvement' | 'Greater involvement' |
While there has been a "small drop" in number of teenage pregnancies in the UK, he said, abortions and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise. | While there has been a "small drop" in number of teenage pregnancies in the UK, he said, abortions and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are on the rise. |
Earlier this year, figures were released showing that the number of abortions performed in the UK on girls under 16 had risen by 10% in 2007. | Earlier this year, figures were released showing that the number of abortions performed in the UK on girls under 16 had risen by 10% in 2007. |
Poll results [87KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | Poll results [87KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
A UK-wide poll commissioned by the BBC from NOP found that the majority of those questioned believed sex and relationship lessons should be compulsory in schools. | A UK-wide poll commissioned by the BBC from NOP found that the majority of those questioned believed sex and relationship lessons should be compulsory in schools. |
Of those, 64% believed lessons should not start until children are at least 11 years old. | Of those, 64% believed lessons should not start until children are at least 11 years old. |
Just over a third (36%) said they did not think children should learn about contraception until they were at least 13. | Just over a third (36%) said they did not think children should learn about contraception until they were at least 13. |