Primary school children to be taught sex education.
By Rachel Wood
Sex Education will form a compulsory part of the National Curriculum in primary and secondary schools in England.
Schools Minister, Jim Knight, has said that a new personal, social and health education curriculum (PSHE) has been prompted by “parents and young people telling us that sex education and indeed drug and alcohol education has not been good enough”.
East London head teacher, Sir Alasdair MacDonald, will lead the review into making PSHE education compulsory.
The details of the curriculum are yet to be broken down, but Jim Knight was quick to state that
“We are not suggesting that five and six-year-olds should be taught sex. What we’re talking about for key stage 1 is children knowing about themselves, their differences, their friendships and how to manage their feelings”.
The new PSHE lessons will focus on lifestyle choices. Knight outlined some details of a government review:
- Sex will be taught in the context of relationships and civil partnerships.
- Laws concerning drug misuse will be considered.
- Healthy living will be covered with an emphasis on nutrition and exercise.
Considering parents’s views
Knight pointed out that although the new PSHE lessons will form a “statutory programme of study…I think it is important that individual parents’s views are taken into account and their right to withdraw because of personal or moral views is respected”.
Catholic schools and other faith schools will have to adhere to the curriculum – including teaching concerning contraception, abortion and homosexuality – but they will be able to continue to share their own religious values about these issues.
Divided opinion
The Christian Insitute feels that “the plans will lead to the sexualisation of children and will undermine parents”.
Speaking to Sebastian Millett, a Catholic and father of two young girls, he fears that “a stigma might be attached” to his children if he withdraws them from these compulsory lessons.
The FPA (formerly the Family Planning Association), in contrast, applauds the government’s decision to introduce sex education to Key stages 1-4 on its website.
Here, Julie Bentley, FPA’s Chief Executive, says that “Research shows that sex and relationships education helps young people delay the time they first have sex, and promotes responsible and healthy choices when they do become sexually active”.
School leaders have expressed concern that by making PSHE compulsory, it could restrict an already overcrowded timetable.
Christine Blower, acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, has said “Quite simply, space has to be made for PSHE in the school day, and sufficient training and necessary specialist staff made available.”
Dr John Dunford, the general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, has raised the issue that “detailed prescription of what is to be taught…would be damaging to good and effective PSHE, which should always reflect the local context of the school.“
The new PSHE compulsory curriculum is expected by 2010.
Click here to read about what is currently taught as sex education.
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(Image courtesy of Juan Keefe II)
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