MPs await Commons debate on sex education amendment
MPs in support of a Labour amendment for mandatory sex and relationship education in schools hope they’ll be enough parliamentary time to allow for a debate and vote.
Labour has tabled an amendment to the Children and Families Bill for statutory Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education, but it remains uncertain if they’ll be enough parliamentary time to allow for a debate and vote on the amendment. It has to be done before 6pm on Tuesday.
“HIV education therefore needs to contain clear, sensitive and sensible messages on sexual health, HIV and same-sex relationships that meet the needs of all young people.”
Guy Slade, parliamentary officer at Terrence Higgins Trust said: Too many young LGBT people are badly let down by inadequate sex and relationships education in our schools. Even in those schools where SRE is taught, teachers can be reluctant to discuss sexual orientation in the classroom; unsurprising given how many years it was forbidden by law. This means that young LGBT people’s sexuality is not being recognised and homophobia is going unchallenged.
“Making sex and relationships education part of the statutory curriculum would help to raise standards in teaching and ensure every child is taught properly about important issues like safer sex, how to have healthy and respectful relationships, and that it’s ok to be gay.”
Last month, a report by Ofsted showed more than a third of schools in England are failing to provide pupils with age-appropriate sex and relationship education.
Too few teachers have the expertise to discuss issues such as sexuality and domestic violence, the schools watchdog warned.
