Together with a number of important educational, representative and expert organisations, the British Humanist Association (BHA) has signed a joint statement expressing deep dismay at the removal of the proposed sex and relationships education entitlement from the National Curriculum.
Joint Statement:
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