Platform 51

News

Friday, 9 April 2010
Sex education is vital for all young people

Our response to the children, schools and families bill

Platform 51 is part of a group of charities that are dismayed clauses to make personal social, health and economic education (PSHE), including sex and relationships education (SRE), a statutory part of the national curriculum have been removed from the children, schools and families bill.

Statutory personal social, health and economic education, including SRE, is vital for young people to develop the skills and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about sex and relationships.

Young people themselves tell us that the information they receive at school about sex and relationships is too little, too late and too biological. A survey by the UK Youth parliament of over 20,000 young people found 61 per cent of boys and 70 per cent of girls aged over 17 reported not receiving any information at school about personal relationships. Another survey found that 81 per cent of parents agreed that all children and young people should have mandatory sex and relationships education lessons. 89 per cent of teachers surveyed agreed that PSHE (including SRE) should be a statutory national curriculum subject.

Platform 51 will continue to campaign for young people’s fundamental right to information, advice and guidance about sex and relationships.