Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of
the ability of schools to deliver the new compulsory elements of
relationships and sex education curriculum from September 2020.
The Question was considered in a Virtual Proceeding via video
call.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Education and Department for International Trade () (Con)
My Lords, the Government have worked extensively with schools,
teachers and experts throughout the development of these
subjects. This has included working with over 1,500 early adopter
schools to support their journey, learn lessons and share good
practice. The department also conducted an impact assessment as
part of the consultation. We are committed to supporting
teachers, which is why we are investing in a programme of support
featuring training materials, case studies and support to access
resources.
(Lab)
I thank the Minister for that reply. Does she agree that
relationships and sex education fosters self-esteem and social
skills in children and young people as well as enhancing academic
performance, and that those skills will be important when pupils
return to school after a long absence? I welcome the Government’s
decision to include RSE in the compulsory curriculum, but how is
this commitment supported precisely with resources and training?
Could she give an example?
My Lords, I agree with the noble Baroness that health and
relationships education will be an essential part of
re-socialising children as more go back to school from 1 June. A
central school support package will be on offer, which will
include training materials—both online and face-to-face where
appropriate—and will be based on the “train the trainer” model.
Schools can also access additional training support if they need
particular help.
My Lords, I declare my interests as stated in the register as
chair of the National Society. In November, the Church of England
produced a charter to support schools in preparing for the new
compulsory elements of RSHE. It is important to us and our
schools that we consult parents on how best to deliver this new
material, to ensure that we provide a sensitive education
enabling all pupils to flourish. Will Her Majesty’s Government
reassess the delivery date of the new elements of RSHE to
accommodate the current constraints on schools’ time and energy
due to Covid-19?
My Lords, I am grateful for the support, and in particular the
charter, outlined by the right reverend Prelate. We are aware
that there are a number of curriculum decisions that schools need
to take. I reassure noble Lords that due consideration is being
given to RSHE implementation and its implications for schools. We
are working closely with the RSHE working group, which includes
the teachers’ unions and faith organisations. I undertake to keep
the House updated.
(Con)
My Lords, three issues greatly concern me, which I have spoken
about in the United Kingdom and during my visits abroad: FGM,
forced marriages, and honour abuse. Can my noble friend say
whether schools in certain areas will be able adequately to
discuss these issues and whether teachers have appropriate
knowledge and sufficient training to do so? Furthermore, what
support is available centrally to assist them?
My Lords, all aspects of safeguarding are covered in the
statutory guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and
issues to do with violence are considered, particularly within
health education. We have also given specific guidance about
sexual violence between young people to assist schools with that
very delicate matter.
(CB)
My Lords, I declare my interests as set out in the register. What
support is being provided to special schools? Are teachers in
special schools well prepared to deliver relationships and sex
education in a developmentally appropriate way and in a way that
will support pupils’ social, emotional and mental health?
Yes, indeed, the attitude of the department is to embed SEND in
every strand of the RSHE work, and we are working closely with
the Sex Education Forum and NASEN to ensure that. We have also
employed SEND experts to help with the development of the
curriculum so that there will be specific resources in the school
support package that I have outlined to assist teachers, most of
whom have a child with SEND in their classroom.
(Lab)
My Lords, the guidance issued by the Department for Education
last year stated that relationships and sex education should be
“part of the basic school curriculum … which allows schools
flexibility in developing their planned programme”.
But last week the Schools Minister, , stated that the department was
giving due consideration to the implementation of the statutory
relationships and sex education curriculum in the context of
Covid-19. That suggested the possibility that implementation
could be delayed due to the coronavirus, even if schools have
returned by September. What process of due consideration was the
Minister referring to and what additional support will the
Government explore to ensure that RSE can be taught online if
schools have not returned by September?
My Lords, as the right reverend Prelate outlined, parents are
required to be consulted as part of the process before a school
introduces its policy to teach these subjects. I reiterate that
we are prioritising operational discussions in relation to the
curriculum and I will keep the House updated on any further
developments.
(LD)
My Lords, according to the government guidelines, parents need to
have been consulted about the new relationships, sex and health
education curriculum changes, so what expectations will there be
for schools that have not been able to consult parents about the
changes due to the coronavirus school closures?
My Lords, the school support package that we will issue will
enable schools and give them examples of best practice in order
to consult parents. We have specifically produced leaflets so
that they have the confidence to distribute that resource. In
terms of the operational decisions in relation to the curriculum,
I will update the House when there is any further information
(Con)
My Lords, I commend the department on producing sensitive and
helpful guidance. The guidance makes it clear that from
September, schools, in consultation with parents, will determine
what is age-appropriate. Thus teaching explicitly about LGBT+
matters is not mandatory for primary schools. But current Ofsted
guidance and the practice of inspectors does not reflect that.
Numerous primary schools have been downgraded in at least one
category for not teaching LGBT. Will my noble friend confirm that
Ofsted will inspect in line with DfE policy and not its own
self-generated policies, and that primary schools will not be
penalised if they do not teach LGBT, according to the wishes of
the parents of a particular school?
My Lords, Ofsted has welcomed the department’s guidance on RSHE
and, when it is implemented in the next academic year, Ofsted
will use it as a guide for assessing part of the personal
development section of inspection. As my noble friend outlined,
the guidance is clear that secondary schools should include LGBT
content but,
“primary schools are strongly encouraged and enabled”,
when teaching about different types of relationships within
families, to include families of same-sex parents. That is
clearly a move from mandatory to permissive language. Obviously,
the Equality Act is also enforced in schools and schools are
required to take into account the other protected
characteristics, including of course the religious background of
students in the school.
(CB)
Does the Minister share my anxiety that the opting-out provisions
of the new law are so wide that children in faith schools may
well be taken out of the sex education classes that they sorely
need? All children need to learn to respect a variety of
lifestyles, and learn how to look after themselves and avoid
harmful practices such as FGM. Children in very religious schools
are the ones most vulnerable to ignorance and prejudice. What
steps will the Minister take to avoid large numbers of parents
removing their children from this education, and how will the
Government help teachers contend with protesting parents?
My Lords, as relationships education in primary schools does not
usually include sex education, there is no right to withdraw your
children from that provision. However, at secondary school, when
sex education is part of the content, parents have the right to
withdraw their child from that education up until three terms
before the child is 16, and the school is required to outline
that right to parents. The balance is struck by allowing this
only until three terms before the child is 16. Obviously, at that
stage, when approaching the age of legal consent for sexual
relationships, it is appropriate to provide some sex education if
the child wishes to have it. The balance is between supporting
parents’ rights and giving children their own right to request
sex education as they develop.
