Sex Education
It’s easy to expect schools to provide all sex education but it’s not a case of either, or.
Children and young people need both good quality sex education in schools and the support of their parents if they are to stay safe and form healthy and fulfilled relationships later in life.
Currently schools are only required to teach the biological aspects of sex, contraception and sexually transmitted infections in secondary school and puberty in primary school. These are often covered in science lessons. The government recommends that schools teach about relationships, risks and choices which most Bristol schools teach but it is not mandatory at the moment.
This will change in the near future as the Government plans to make Personal, Social and health education (PSHE), including sex and relationships educations (SRE), statutory. This will ensure young people across the country have equal access to a broader SRE curriculum with age appropriate learning for primary and secondary schools. As part of this teachers will be trained and supported to deliver this.
Bristol Primary Schools
In Bristol, primary schools are supported to devise an age appropriate curriculum which focuses on learning about relationships, and later about body changes and reproduction. A programme has been provided as a basis on which schools can devise their own programmes having consulted with parents and governors.
Bristol Secondary Schools
Secondary schools are about to receive a similar age appropriate framework for a programme on which they can ensure that young people will not only receive the biological aspects of SRE but also learn about safer sex, healthy relationships, risks, and sexuality. It will be up to the schools to decide how they use this resource.
Schools in both primary and secondary phases are supported by a local authority advisor.
If you are interested in what the schools provide for your children then contact:
- For primary school – The Headteacher
- For secondary school – The PSHE Co-ordinator
They will be able to share their programme, policy and resources.
