13th January 2017 1:00
By Blue Tutors
Sex education is a contentious topic among teachers and parents, with some believing it should be left to parents. Yet, a recent survey shows that 74% of 11 to 15 year olds in the UK would feel safer if they had sex and relationship education (SRE) at school. Most worryingly, one in four students said that they did not know where to go to find the information themselves. Parents were equally decided on the issues, with 89% saying that age appropriate lessons should be given in school.
While SRE is already in place in many maintained schools and academies, 14% of students surveyed said they had had no SRE at school to date, and many schools have not caught up with the issues currently facing youngsters, include issues like online pornography and grooming. Half of female students polled said they were concerned about being approached by a stranger online, yet only 12% knew what to do if this happened.
The children’s charity Barnardo's says sex and relationship lessons should be compulsory, not only to improve digital safety but the environment within schools themselves. There is increasing evidence of the clear link between lack of SRE and levels of sexual misconduct in schools, and the rate of sexual offenses has more than doubled in the last four years. The Department of Education has been accused of failing girls by not providing an environment “free from violence, abuse and discrimination”.
This new information comes at a time when the government is under great pressure to make SRE mandatory in schools, flowing statements from several parliamentary select committee chairs and a damning investigation into sexual harassment and abuse in schools earlier in the year. The government says it is considering best how to ensure the quality and access of SRE to all secondary school students, particularly as it passes the children and social work bill through parliament.