A group of MPs has issued a report urging the government to make sex education compulsory in all state primary and secondary schools.
The government has said that it will consider the findings carefully.
Requirements
Currently, primary schools do not have to teach pupils beyond the basic biology required by the national curriculum.
Secondary schools are required to teach 14-16 year olds about sexually transmitted diseases.
Report
The report, issued by the Commons Education Committee, suggests that “age appropriate” sex-and-relationships education should be statutory in both primary and secondary schools.
The group of MPs argue that because sex education isn’t currently compulsory, it is often sidelined.
Consequences
However, if implemented, the recommendations could have negative consequences for both parents and schools.
Statutory sex education is likely to limit parents’ say in what their children are taught. The guidelines recommend that schools consult parents, but if the government decides what is to be taught by law, parents’ influence will be limited.
Schools would also stand to lose their autonomy in this area. Up until now schools have been able to develop policies in line with their ethos.
If the government dictates what is to be taught, schools may have to compromise their beliefs in contentious areas such as contraception, abortion and homosexuality, if they want to remain on the right side of the law.
Ultimately, these guidelines risk seeing the government usurping parents’ responsibility by deciding what children should be taught in the area of sex and relationships.
Christian schools
The report is issued at a time when Christian schools and schools with a Christian ethos are being scrutinised for what they teach pupils in this area. Some are already in danger of being shut down.
If the government acts on the guidelines, such schools could come under even further scrutiny depending on what the government decides should be taught in the area of sex-and-relationships education.
Watch Alan Craig discuss the irrelevancy of teaching five-year-olds about sex education.
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Primary pupils need sex-and-relationships education, say MPs