Sex education in schools
Many parents are concerned about the sex and relationships education their children are receiving at school. We are happy to discuss parental concerns and give advice.
Lovewise produces material for use in schools on the subjects of marriage, sex and relationships. Our resources can either be used by a teacher or given by a visiting Lovewise presenter. Two of our school resources, Relationships Matter and Marriage, Sex & Living Wisely, are available online free of charge, and there are several others available to purchase.
Information about sex education in schools
Section 80A of the Education Act 2002 states that pupils should learn about the nature of marriage and its importance for family life and the bringing up of children. Is this being taught in your child’s school?
Parents have a right to see any sex education material which will be shown to their children and to know when this teaching will take place.
Schools should work in partnership with parents, giving parents the information they need for meaningful consultation.
Many children would prefer to learn about relationships and sex from their parents, rather than in school.
Secondary Schools - The DfE guidance Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education states that, after appropriate discussion with the headteacher, a school should respect the parents’ request to withdraw their child from sex education. This guidance applies up to and until three terms before the child turns 16, after which point, if the child wishes to receive sex education rather than be withdrawn, the school should make arrangements to provide the child with sex education during one of those terms.
Primary Schools - The DfE guidance states that parents who request to withdraw a pupil from any sex education delivered in primary schools, other than as part of the science curriculum, will have their request granted automatically by the head teacher.
Please note that there is no longer any right to withdraw from Relationships Education or Health Education in either secondary or primary schools.
Teaching following the legal redefinition of marriage
Since the legal change to the definition of marriage, many teachers have been uncertain what they are allowed to teach on the subject of marriage. Recent guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) provides helpful clarification that the traditional, biblical nature of marriage can continue to be taught schools.
Here are a few quotes from the EHRC guidance:
“Maintained secondary schools have a legal requirement to teach about the ‘nature of marriage’” and in so doing they “must accurately state the facts about marriage of same sex couples”. However, “no school, or individual teacher, is under a duty to support, promote or endorse marriage of same sex couples.”
“Teachers, other school staff, governors, parents and pupils are all free to hold whatever personal views they choose on marriage of same sex couples, including a view that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. The Government recognises that the belief that marriage can only be between a man and a woman is a belief worthy of respect in a democratic society.”
“Schools with a religious character can continue to deliver sex and relationship education in accordance with their particular religious doctrines or ethos. They must do so in a sensitive, reasonable, respectful and balanced way.”
Helpful publications
For more information on these issues you may find the following publications useful:
Too much too young: exposing primary school sex education
A look at the explicit nature of some commonly used primary sex education materials.
Download from The Christian Institute
Retaining Values in RSE: a guide for parents
You might also find it useful to contact the School Gate Campaign who have a helpful toolkit available to support concerned parents
