Welsh government to introduce LGBT-inclusive relationships and sexuality education

The Welsh government has announced plans to overhaul its sex and relationship curriculum – and vowed to make sure it is LGBT-inclusive.

The announcement comes 30 years on from the imposition of Section 28 in schools in Wales, England and Scotland.

Three decades on from the landmark anti-gay law, which banned the so-called promotion of homosexuality in schools, the Welsh government on Tuesday said it would ensure children receive an LGBT-inclusive education.

Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) is already is a part of the basic curriculum in Wales, however, it is up to schools to decide an individual approach to the subject.

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Under an overhaul the subject will become Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE), which will become a statutory subject from 2022.

The new RSE curriculum will include a heavy emphasis on “forming and maintaining healthy, happy and fulfilling relationships,” aiming to progress beyond teachings on basic biology.

In addition to covering “a much broader understanding of sexuality that is fully inclusive of LGBTQI+ learners,” the subject will include “wider issues such as consent, domestic abuse and respecting diversity.”

Welsh Education Secretary Kirsty Williams, a Liberal Democrat, said: “The days of traditional sex education are long gone; the world has moved on and our curriculum must move with it.

“Sex should never be taught in isolation for the simple reason that it is about so much more than just sex; it’s also about relationships, rights and respect and that must go hand in hand with a much broader understanding of sexuality. Anything less does a disservice to our learners and teachers.

“The fact is relationships and sexuality shape our lives as well as the world around us. They are a fundamental part of who we are and how we understand ourselves, each other and society.