All children and young people are entitled to receive high quality and comprehensive Sex and Relationships Education, the British Humanist Association has restated today.
The evangelical and socially conservative pressure group, the Christian Institute, has released a report which claims that “sex education” information packs used in primary schools are too “explicit”. The report, “Too Much, Too Young” argues that the use of certain cartoon images and discussion of different types of relationships, including gay relationships, is inappropriate. The report also opposes any legal change to have SRE taught as a compulsory subject.
Naomi Phillips, BHA Head of Public Affairs commented, ‘SRE is an important subject that, as part of a broad, balanced and objective curriculum, helps to equip students with skills, knowledge and confidence they need for healthy, fulfilling and safe relationships now and in later life. Far from opposing teaching SRE in schools as the report suggests, parents, teachers, educationalists, health professionals and children themselves welcome and want high quality SRE. As part of our commitment to promoting and ensuring children’s rights to a good education and unbiased information, we are working closely with our supporters in parliament, as well as a wide range of other organisations, to seek ways to improve the provision of SRE in all schools.’
Lucy Emmerson, spokesperson for the Sex Education Forum (SEF), of which the BHA is a long-standing member, said ‘We believe that all children and young people are entitled to good quality sex and relationships education (SRE). SRE should be built on year by year with involvement from both school and home. Some schools have excellent SRE programmes in place, but children and young people still tell us that in many cases SRE is too little, too late.’
The government has announced that it will conduct and internal review into PSHE, including SRE, later in the year. The BHA will seek to be involved in the upcoming PSHE review.
Notes
‘Sex education is about a lot more than the mechanics – The Christian Institute may hope to provoke an outcry about sex education from frightened parents. But there is no cause for alarm’. Guardian Education Blog about the report by the editor of bishUK.com, a sex and relationships education website for young people.
Read the full Christian Institute report “Too Much, Too Young”
For further comment or information, contact Naomi Phillips on 020 7079 3585.
Read the BHA’s position statement on SRE
The BHA is committed to encouraging informed and responsible choice. Therefore, we believe that all children are entitled to full and accurate SRE, including unbiased information on contraception, STIs, abortion, sexual orientation, and the many forms of family relationship conducive to individual fulfilment and the stability of society.
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. The BHA contributes to debate on a wide range of ethical issues from stem cell research to sex education. The BHA is a member of the National Children’s Bureau Sex Education Forum (SEF) and the Children’s Rights Alliance for England.