ASCL supports introduction of statutory relationships and sex education

Education Secretary Justine Greening has today (Wednesday 1 March 2017) announced plans to make relationships and sex education statutory.

Malcolm Trobe, Interim General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “We support the introduction of statutory relationships and sex education in secondary schools and age-appropriate relationships education in primary schools. ASCL Council, our policy-making body, recently discussed this matter and also resolved that Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education should be statutory. 

“Children and young people are faced with an extraordinary range of social pressures and, while the vast majority of schools already provide relationships and sex education as part of their PSHE programmes, it is important to ensure this provision is universally available.  

“We do not believe it is necessary for the government to provide standardised frameworks or programmes of study, and we would urge ministers against being too prescriptive.  It is important that schools have the freedom to be innovative and the flexibility to teach a PSHE programme, including relationships and sex education, which meets the needs of their pupils.”