Parents think sex education should be compulsory.

May 22nd 3013

A new poll carried out by YouGov reveals that parents think sex education should be compulsory in schools. Parents believe that the topics of sexual consent and respectful relationships should be covered. The poll is accompanied by a report that is critical of action taken by the Department of Education to address the issue of sexual abuse in schools. Currently, maintainedMaintained schools are funded by the government via the local authority, and do not charge fees to students. The categories of maintained school are: communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school., foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. (including trustTrust schools are broadly the same as foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsFoundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.. They receive extra support (usually non-monetary) from a charitable trust made up of partners working together for the benefit of the school. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.), voluntary aidedIn voluntary aided schools (many of which are faith schools) the governing body, as opposed to the local education authority*, employs the staff, and decides admission arrangements. and voluntary controlledIn Voluntary controlled schools, the charitable foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. which owns the school, (often a church organisation) appoints the governorsEvery school has a governing body. They are a group of volunteers chosen by parents, the local authority, the community and school staff.They are responsible for strategic and legal aspects of the school’s work. The governing body line manages the Head teacher., but the teachers are employed by the local education authority*, which is also responsible for admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools.*.. secondary schools, but not academiesAcademies are privately sponsored, but are still state schools. Previously failing schools which have closed have been reAlso known as ‘Religious Studies' (RS). RE, Religious Education, is a compulsory subject in state* schools.-launched as Academies. Some Academies are new build with extensive resources., are legally required to:

• teach some parts of sex education, for example, the biological aspects of puberty, reproduction and the spread of viruses. 
• teach about HIV, AIDs, and other sexually transmitted diseases.

The broader subject of sex and relationship education is currently not compulsory, but is contained within the non-statutory PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life. (personal, social, health, economic) subject, which is in the National CurriculumThe National Curriculum consists of those subjects and programmes of study that schools are legally required to provide. AcademiesAcademies are privately sponsored, but are still state schools. Previously failing schools which have closed have been reAlso known as ‘Religious Studies' (RS). RE, Religious Education, is a compulsory subject in state* schools.-launched as Academies. Some Academies are new build with extensive resources.* and Free SchoolsFree Schools are all-ability state-funded schools set up in response to parental demand. At the time of writing, they are a new government initiative. Charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents can set up free schools. * do are not required to deliver the National Curriculum.. The inclusion of the subject outside the science curriculum is strongly recommended by government guidance, and governorsEvery school has a governing body. They are a group of volunteers chosen by parents, the local authority, the community and school staff.They are responsible for strategic and legal aspects of the school’s work. The governing body line manages the Head teacher. are legally required to give ‘due regard’ to this guidance.

MaintainedMaintained schools are funded by the government via the local authority, and do not charge fees to students. The categories of maintained school are: communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school., foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. (including trustTrust schools are broadly the same as foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsFoundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.. They receive extra support (usually non-monetary) from a charitable trust made up of partners working together for the benefit of the school. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.), voluntary aidedIn voluntary aided schools (many of which are faith schools) the governing body, as opposed to the local education authority*, employs the staff, and decides admission arrangements. and voluntary controlledIn Voluntary controlled schools, the charitable foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. which owns the school, (often a church organisation) appoints the governorsEvery school has a governing body. They are a group of volunteers chosen by parents, the local authority, the community and school staff.They are responsible for strategic and legal aspects of the school’s work. The governing body line manages the Head teacher., but the teachers are employed by the local education authority*, which is also responsible for admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools.*.. secondary schools, but not academiesAcademies are privately sponsored, but are still state schools. Previously failing schools which have closed have been reAlso known as ‘Religious Studies' (RS). RE, Religious Education, is a compulsory subject in state* schools.-launched as Academies. Some Academies are new build with extensive resources., are legally obliged to have a sex and relationship education policy which outlines how they teach this subject outside of the science curriculum.

It is important to note that academiesAcademies are privately sponsored, but are still state schools. Previously failing schools which have closed have been reAlso known as ‘Religious Studies' (RS). RE, Religious Education, is a compulsory subject in state* schools.-launched as Academies. Some Academies are new build with extensive resources. do not have to teach sex education in the science curriculum, nor are they required to have policy, but they are required to give ‘due regard’ to government guidance.

The same requirements described above apply to faith secondary schools.

The government has recently issued a new draft National CurriculumThe National Curriculum consists of those subjects and programmes of study that schools are legally required to provide. AcademiesAcademies are privately sponsored, but are still state schools. Previously failing schools which have closed have been reAlso known as ‘Religious Studies' (RS). RE, Religious Education, is a compulsory subject in state* schools.-launched as Academies. Some Academies are new build with extensive resources.* and Free SchoolsFree Schools are all-ability state-funded schools set up in response to parental demand. At the time of writing, they are a new government initiative. Charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers and groups of parents can set up free schools. * do are not required to deliver the National Curriculum. which will come into place in September 2014.  The requirements outlined above will be broadly the same.

What has this got to do with choosing a secondary school?

• The teaching of sex education in secondary schools can vary considerably, particularly because there are a growing number of secondary academiesAcademies are privately sponsored, but are still state schools. Previously failing schools which have closed have been reAlso known as ‘Religious Studies' (RS). RE, Religious Education, is a compulsory subject in state* schools.-launched as Academies. Some Academies are new build with extensive resources., and they adhere to different requirements from maintainedMaintained schools are funded by the government via the local authority, and do not charge fees to students. The categories of maintained school are: communityCommunity schools are the standard type of maintained, state school., foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. (including trustTrust schools are broadly the same as foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsFoundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.. They receive extra support (usually non-monetary) from a charitable trust made up of partners working together for the benefit of the school. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.), voluntary aidedIn voluntary aided schools (many of which are faith schools) the governing body, as opposed to the local education authority*, employs the staff, and decides admission arrangements. and voluntary controlledIn Voluntary controlled schools, the charitable foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. which owns the school, (often a church organisation) appoints the governorsEvery school has a governing body. They are a group of volunteers chosen by parents, the local authority, the community and school staff.They are responsible for strategic and legal aspects of the school’s work. The governing body line manages the Head teacher., but the teachers are employed by the local education authority*, which is also responsible for admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools.*.. state schoolsState schools are non-fee paying schools provided by the state.. 
• Because  PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life. is not obligatory, some schools do not teach it. Some schools do teach it, and call it something else. Most schools cover the subject of PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life. in other subjects, if they don’t teach it as a standalone subject.
• Schools teach sex education to different extents. Some schools will automatically cover sexual consent and respectful relationships, some will not.
• In some schools, because it is not an exam subject, PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life. is not taken seriously by pupils. As a result, if the classroom environment is not an appropriate one for the teaching of sex education, the teaching is not always effective.
• It is rarely the case that PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life. or sex education is taught by subject specialists. Sometimes it is the case that the teachers who end up teaching sex education are reluctant to do so.  The quality of sex education therefore is often down to the quality of the teachers and their commitment to the subject.
• Some schools have a really vibrant and engaging PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life. curriculum (or they might call it something else) which is appreciated by students. In this context, sex education is often well taught.
• Sex education can only be well taught if the school has established an ethos of respect, where pupils can take risks with questions they ask, and feel comfortable to reveal their own lack of understanding or knowledge. This ethos has to pervade the whole school, and cannot just be developed in isolation for sex education lessons.
• If sex education is to be effective, then pupils have to have a positive relationship with the teacher who teaches it, so they trustTrust schools are broadly the same as foundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schoolsFoundationFoundation schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. schools are broadly the same as trust schools. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools.. They receive extra support (usually non-monetary) from a charitable trust made up of partners working together for the benefit of the school. The governing body is the employer and admissionsAdmissions is the department in the local education authority responsible for allocating children to schools. authority, rather than the local authority, as is the case for maintained schools. Faith schools are often trust schools. the information they are given.
• Arguably, teachers are not the right people to be teaching young people about sex. It is sometimes the case that, because teachers represent authority, pupils automatically rebel against advice they perceive to be given by teachers.
• Some secondary schools bring in outside agencies to educate pupils about sex, so that pupils feel the information is from a source they can relate to, if they don’t relate well to the school.
• There is an on-going debate about when pupils should be taught sex education.  Some individuals and organisations think that secondary schools tend to teach it too late in the child’s development.
• A school that is effective at teaching about sex and relationships develops and changes its curriculum according to the changing needs of the pupils. For example, there might be a local incident in the news which effects pupils’ attitudes to sex and relationships, and a good school should address this through the curriculum.

If you are concerned about how your child will be taught sex education at secondary school,

• ask if they have a sex and relationship education policy, (a requirement if they are not an academyAcademies are privately sponsored, but are still state schools. Previously failing schools which have closed have been reAlso known as ‘Religious Studies' (RS). RE, Religious Education, is a compulsory subject in state* schools.-launched as Academies. Some Academies are new build with extensive resources.) and see if you are happy with when and what pupils are taught about sex education.
• look in the school prospectus to see if and how PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life., and/or sex and relationship education is referred to. This will give you some idea of what kind of profile the subject has in the school.
• when you visit the school, ask the pupils if they have PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life. as a subject, or something similar.  Ask them if they like it, enjoy it, or mess about in it. This will give you some idea about the environment sex education is taught in.
• at the open evening, as to speak to the member of staff in charge of PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life.. If they are impressive and high profile, it is often the case that the curriculum for which they responsible is similarly dynamic.
• at the open evening, as the member of staff in charge of PSHEPSHE, Personal, Social and Health Education, is the study and discussion of issues students will encounter in their personal and adult life. how the school responds to the changing needs of their pupils, with regard to sex and relationship education.  It is a good sign if the curriculum is bespoke to the needs of the pupils at that school.