09.04.2010
In a rush to pass legislation ahead of the dissolution of Parliament, sections of the Children, Schools and Families Bill were dropped this week, including compulsory sex and relationships education.
A number of organisations including the UK Youth Parliament, Brook and the British Humanist Association have signed a joint open letter stating that they will not give up the fight on behalf of every young person in this country and their right to good, high quality sex and relationships education.
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Dear Sir,
We are dismayed clauses to make Personal Social, Health and Economic Education including sex and relationships education a statutory part of the National Curriculum for all state schools in England were removed from the Children, Schools and Families Bill. This leaves our young people with no guarantee of appropriate support on some of the most pressing issues they will be faced with as they grow into adulthood. This cannot be right.. As organisations that represent parents, young people, education and health care professionals we are completely appalled.
Young people themselves tell us that the information they receive at school about sex and relationships is too little, too late and too biological. A survey by the UK Youth parliament of over 20,000 young people found 61 per cent of boys and 70 per cent of girls aged over 17 reported not receiving any information at school about personal relationships . Parents support statutory sex and relationships education; a survey found that 81 per cent of parents agreed that all children and young people should have mandatory sex and relationships education lessons. 89 per cent of teachers surveyed agreed that PSHE (including SRE) should be a statutory national curriculum subject.
Statutory PSHE Education is critical for the future wellbeing of our children and young people. Whilst the decision has delayed this, we will continue to fight for this fundamental right of knowledge and information for our young people.
- Julie Bentley, Chief Executive, FPA
- Simon Blake, Chief Executive, Brook
- Martin Buczkiewicz, Chief Executive, Tacade
- Andrew Copson, Chief Executive, British Humanist Association
- Bridie Collins, Head of Relationship and Marriage Education, MARRIAGE CARE
- Mike Diamond, Acting Director UK and West Europe, Marie Stopes International
- Rev Sharon Ferguson MA, Chief Executive, Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement
- Anne Furedi, Chief Executive, British Pregnancy Advisory Service
- Lisa Hallgarten, Director, Education for Choice
- Andy Hamflett , Chief Executive, UK Youth Parliament
- Ann Henderson, Chair, Abortion Rights
- Annabel Kanabus, Director, AVERT
- Anna Martinez, National Coordinator, Sex Education Forum
- Sir Nick Partridge, Chief Executive, THT
- Sarah Payne, Chief Executive, YWCA England and Wales
- Dr Keith Radcliffe, President, British Association of Sexual Health and HIV
- Jo Sharpen, Children and Young People's Project Coordinator, Greater London Domestic Violence Project
- Hannah White, UK Policy Manager, WOMANKIND Worldwide
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