BHA backs launch of ‘SRE – It’s my right’ campaign, submits evidence to Education Select Committee inquiry on PSHE and SRE

6 June, 2014

SRE - It's my rightThe British Humanist Association (BHA) has today joined over 30 other organisations in supporting the launch of the ‘Sex & Relationships Education – It’s My Right’ campaign, organised by the Sex Education Forum (SEF), which calls for every pupil in England to be guaranteed full and comprehensive sex and relationships education (SRE) as part of an entitlement to statutory personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. The campaign has been launched on the same day as the BHA has submitted evidence the House of Commons Education Select Committee’s inquiry into PSHE and SRE in schools.

BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson is also a signatory to a letter published in today’s Guardian, organised to coincide with the launch of the campaign. The campaign has produced briefings for each of the main parties, is encouraging those over 18 to write to their MP and those under 18 to sign a petition.

In its submission to the inquiry, the BHA has:

  • Set out that it believes every young person should receive full and comprehensive statutory SRE and PSHE as this is what is supported by children’s rights legislation and is what the evidence shows leads to the best outcomes in terms of sexual health and wellbeing
  • Explained that it does not believe the current narrow requirements around the teaching of PSHE and SRE in schools are sufficient, with far too many pupils receiving inadequate PSHE and some topics not covered at all by some schools
  • Highlighted examples of where problems have arisen and the BHA has been involved, for example its work with Education For Choice to highlight anti-abortion groups like SPUC, Lovewise and LIFE providing misinformation about abortion and contraception in schools; challenging a petition against same-sex marriage that was promoted in Catholic schools; and uncovering section 28-like statements in many schools’ SRE policies.
  • While welcoming the supplementary guidance recently published by SEF, the PSHE Association and Brook, called for more to be done as schools can just ignore guidance of this nature and unfortunately many likely will.

BHA Faith Schools Campaigner Richy Thompson commented, ‘We welcome the launch of the “SRE – It’s my right” campaign, and the opportunity to submit evidence to the Education Select Committee as part of their first ever inquiry into PSHE and SRE. Every young person is entitled to receive high quality, evidence-based education in PSHE, with no exceptions for religious schools. The evidence shows that this is the right approach in terms of delaying young people having sex, ensuring that when they do it is consensual and safe and so in preventing unwanted outcomes such as STIs, teenage pregnancies and abortion.

‘We look forward to the outcome of the Committee’s inquiry and will continue to work with it and with the new campaign to push the major parties to start listening.’

Notes

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

Visit the SRE – It’s my right campaign website: http://www.sexeducationforum.org.uk/its-my-right

Email your MP in support or sign the petition: http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=66&ea.campaign.id=28509

Read the letter in today’s Guardian, to which the BHA is a signatory: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jun/05/teaching-sex-relationships

Read about the Education Select Committee inquiry into PSHE and SRE in schools: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/inquiries/parliament-2010/pshe-and-sre-in-schools/

Read the BHA’s submission: http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/education-committee/pshe-and-sre-in-schools/written/10219.pdf

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 and the PSHE Association.

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.