The BHA is urging its members and supporters to respond to a government consultation on proposed new Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) guidance, which sets out advice about how schools can plan and deliver good quality SRE.
BHA Campaigns Officer Paul Pettinger said ‘Overall we welcome the guidance. It emphasises the importance of broad and balanced SRE and is more detailed than its predecessor, while at the same time avoiding specialist terminology, so it will be accessible for schools to use.
‘However, the guidance stresses the freedom that schools will have when providing SRE in future. We want it to stress particularly the principles that the Government have said that all schools, including “faith schools”, will have to adhere to when they teach SRE, such as that it is accurate and balanced, reflects a reasonable range of perspectives, endeavours to promote equality and encourages acceptance of diversity.’
The proposed new guidance will replace existing guidance published in 2000. The BHA has made its own submission to the consultation and members and supporters can enter make their own submission by using the BHA’s take action page.
Notes
The BHA is committed to encouraging informed and responsible choice and believes all children should be entitled to full and accurate age appropriate SRE. See our position statement on SRE.
For further comment or information, contact Paul Pettinger on 020 7462 4993.
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing the interests of the large and growing population of ethically concerned, non-religious people living in the UK.