The British Humanist Association (BHA) has called today for changes to ensure that all schools, including those with a religious character, teach Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) that is of a high quality.
The call follows a statement from Nick Gibb that all Free Schools and new Academies will need to teach SRE within PSHE at least to some degree, as ‘the funding agreement [established with each Free School and Academy] will set out those things that the Government determines are important in schools, and so the idea that a group of parents can set up a school and be completely free of any of society’s priorities is not the case.’ However, the BHA believes that this does not go far enough.
BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘Many ‘faith’ schools teach SRE that is of a poor quality and this trend looks set to continue with the new ‘faith’ Academies and Free Schools. The flimsy provisions in the funding agreements do not require schools to teach SRE to a sufficient standard, and thus many children will be inadequately prepared for later life. Furthermore, there are serious concerns that this or future governments could choose funding agreements that do not to enforce SRE in PSHE at all.
‘It is vital that every young person receives good SRE, including teaching about STIs, contraception, abortion and different sexual orientations and gender identities. The only way to ensure this is by changing the law to require every state-funded school to teach SRE to such high standards.’
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For further comment or information, contact Richy Thompson on 020 7462 4993.
Read the BHA’s position statement on SRE.
Nick Gibb made his statement to the House of Lords Committee on HIV and AIDS in the UK. Watch the meeting.
The model funding agreement for Free Schools only specifies that, ‘The Academy Trust shall have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State on sex and relationship education to ensure that children at the Academy are protected from inappropriate teaching materials and they learn the nature of marriage and its importance for family life and for bringing up children.’
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 is the national charity working on behalf of ethically concerned, non-religious people in the UK. It is the largest organisation in the UK campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief, and for a secular state.. 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.