The Liberal Democrats are calling for children as young as seven to receive compulsory sex and relationships education in state schools across England.
Under the proposals, which will appear in the Liberal Democrat General Election Manifesto, all schools would be required to offer sex education to pupils in Key Stage 2 - including children aged seven to 11.
The party also wants the right of parents to withdraw their children from such classes to be removed, and for sex education to be made compulsory in all state-run secondary schools. Currently, state secondary schools run by local authorities are required to offer sex education, but free schools and academies are not obliged to do so.
The Liberal Democrat schools minister, David Laws, said his party had "long made the case" for compulsory sex and relationships education in all schools, believing that the lessons would help children make “informed choices in their personal lives."
David Laws says that academies and free schools are currently “depriving children of important life lessons”.
“We believe that by educating children about sex and relationships in an appropriate way, we can help them to make informed choices in their personal lives,” says Mr Laws who points out that “it is not something the Conservatives are open to”.
Andrea Williams, CEO of Christian Concern says: "It is the primary responsibility of parents to raise their children and teach them these important life lessons.
"Sadly, we have seen that sex education has failed to keep our children safe and it is now time for a radical rethink on how we can protect and nurture our children."
Source:
The Telegraph