The government announced (following a review and consultation) that personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) would became a statutory part of the national curriculum from 2011, with sex and relationships education forming a key part of the subject. Parents would have the right to withdraw their children from sex education up to the age of 15 (rather than 19 hitherto). A linked study found that most parents did not feel that there should be any parental right to withdraw children and young people from sex and relationships education at all.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 5 November 2009, columns 49-52WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Personal, Social, Health And Economic Education: Curriculum reform consultation report to the DCSF, Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency | Sherbert Research, Customer Voice Research: Sex and Relationships Education, Research Report RR175, Department for Children, Schools and Families
Links: Hansard | DCSF press release | Consultation report | Research report | FPA press release | Accord Coalition press release | YWCA press release | UKYP press release | NASUWT press release | ATL press release | NAT press release | BHA press release | SPUC press release | Guardian report (1) | Guardian report (2) | BBC report
Date: 2009-Nov
A report said that the sex education 'lobby' had a hidden agenda that involved seeking to undermine the role of parents and to tear down traditional moral standards.
Source: Norman Wells, Too Much, Too Soon: The government's plans for your child's sex education, Family Education Trust (info@famyouth.org.uk)
Links: Report | Family Education Trust press release | Telegraph report
Date: 2009-Jul
An independent review recommended that personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) should become part of the statutory national curriculum in both primary and secondary phases.
Source: Alasdair Macdonald, Independent Review of Making Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) Education Statutory, Department for Children, Schools and Families (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report | Letter (1) | Letter (2) | Hansard | SEF press release | PSHE Association press release | FPA press release | YWCA press release | Telegraph report | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2009-Apr