Rotherham primary school children set for "relationship" education

The amendment means children as young as four could be taught about issues such as cyber bullying, ‘sexting’ and staying safe online in general, with the teaching planned to begin in September 2019.

The move has been welcomed by Rotherham MP and Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities Sarah Champion, who has campaigned extensively for the change.

Parents will continue to have a right to withdraw their children from sex education lessons and schools will have flexibility over how they deliver these subjects, so they can develop an integrated approach that is sensitive to the needs of the local community.

Faith schools will still be able to teach in accordance with the tenets of their faith.

Until now, sexual education has only been compulsory in council run schools, but the new amendment means academies and free schools will also fall under the guidelines.

Miss Greening said in a written statement released today (Wednesday): “The Department for Education will lead a comprehensive programme of engagement to set out age-appropriate subject content and identify the support schools need to deliver high-quality teaching.

“Regulations and statutory guidance will then be subject to full public consultation before being laid subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. In line with this timetable, schools will be required to teach this content from September 2019.

“My Department will today publish a Policy Statement, which sets out more detail.”

In the same statement, Miss Greening also confirmed that all secondary schools in England will teach age-appropriate ‘relationships and sex education’.

There will be a full public consultation later this year when the Government will then decide what should be taught.

Do you think teaching relationship education to primary school children is the correct thing to do, or do you think that the children are too young at that age?

See this week’s Advertiser for more details.