BHA welcomes publication of sex and relationships education supplementary advice

28 February, 2014

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the publication this morning of new Government-endorsed advice on sex and relationships education (SRE) in English schools. Sex and relationships education (SRE) for the 21st century: Supplementary advice to the Sex and Relationship Education Guidance DfEE (0116/2000) has been produced by the Sex Education Forum, PSHE Association and Brook, and acts as a supplementary update to the Government’s Sex and Relationship Education Guidance from 2000.

The new advice covers developments since 2000 such as internet safety, cyber-bullying, sexting, and changes in education law such as the introduction of Academies and Free Schools. It also fills in gaps such as on consent, female genital mutilation, pornography, LGBT issues, and how to integrate SRE into a school’s curriculum. Finally, it reinforces the existing advice in areas of identified need such as exploitation, abuse, and the role of outside visitors including with respect to abortion and contraception (an issue which the BHA has worked on in recent years).

BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, ‘Society has changed massively in the fourteen years since the last sex and relationships education guidance was produced, and as such, the guidance that was produced then badly needs updating. We welcome this supplementary advice as doing just that: the three organisations involved have worked hard to identify with teachers the key issues that are missing in the 2000 document, and produced a document that addresses these topics.

‘It is vital that every young person receives the full and comprehensive sex and relationships education to which they are entitled. This is because the evidence shows that SRE of this nature is what leads to the best outcomes in terms of young people having healthy, happy relationships, with the best outcomes in terms of sexual health. We look forward to this advice being taken up by schools and being used to improve the quality of sex and relationships education for young people of all ages and backgrounds.’

Notes

For further comment or information contact Richy Thompson, Education Campaigns Officer, at richy@humanists.uk or on 020 7324 3072.

Read the new supplementary advice: http://www.brook.org.uk/index.php/information/sre-supplementary-advice

Read more about the BHA’s work on PSHE and sex and relationships education: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/schools-and-education/school-curriculum/pshe-and-sex-and-relationships-education/

The BHA is a member of the Sex Education Forum.

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.