The British Humanist Association (BHA) has briefed MPs on the House of Commons Public Committee stage of the Children, Schools and Families Bill as they begin today to examine the Bill clause by clause for the first time.
The Bill seeks to make Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education, which includes age-appropriate Sex and Relationship Education (SRE), compulsory for the first time in both primary and secondary education.
BHA chief Executive Andrew Copson said, ‘Humanist organisations have championed good sex and relationships education for decades and we welcome that the Bill seeks to ensure PSHE is taught in all state schools. By making PSHE compulsory the Bill will raise standards in many schools up to a level that a large proportion of our schools already provide.
‘We are very concerned however about how the Bill will let schools, and particularly state-funded religious schools, teach about certain issues, such as contraception and different sexualities. We are also very disappointed that the Bill proposes to allow parents to deny their children education about relationships until they are 15.’
BHA campaigner Paul Pettinger added, ‘Good SRE is known to reduce unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections, as well as equip young people with the language and tools to be clear about personal boundaries, understand appropriate and inappropriate behaviour and know who to talk to when they need help. For older children it helps them resist pressure, make safe choices and challenge misleading and inappropriate messages about sex in the media. In the context of the conflicting rights of parents to deny their children these lessons and a child’s right to receive education about relationships, the law should firmly support the child and his or her present and future health.’
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For further comment or information, contact Andrew Copson on 020 7079 3583 or 020 3675 0959.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the non-religious and campaigning for an end to religious privilege and discrimination based on religion or belief.