The Sex Education Forum have issued the following statement in response to the education White Paper 'Educational excellence everywhere':
Jane Lees, Chair the Sex Education Forum, said:
'Sex and relationships education (SRE) is almost invisible in Nicky Morgan's proposals for education. In the past, the Government has dodged calls for SRE to be made statutory from young people, parents, teachers and MPs chairing four Select Committees by emphasizing how maintained schools are required to teach some SRE, but with plans to make all schools academies on the horizon there is nothing in the White Paper to guarantee that SRE is taught in any school in England.
'The promise of an action plan to improve the quality of PSHE is welcome, but only if SRE is a core element in these measures. Despite evidence that half of young people do not learn how to get help if they are abused, the government has done little to ensure children get vital information to protect their safety and wellbeing. This is a backward step and disregards the growing political support for statutory SRE.'