Responding to an announcement by the Government that sex and
relationship education is to be made compulsory in all secondary
schools, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the LGA’s Community
Wellbeing Board, said:
“We are pleased that the Government has listened to our call for
sex and relationship education (SRE) to be made compulsory in all
secondary schools, which can help to reduce the high number of
STI diagnoses in young people.
“As we have previously warned, the lack of compulsory SRE in
secondary academies and free schools is storing up problems for
later on in life, creating a ticking sexual health time bomb, as
we are seeing in those who have recently left school.
“We believe that making SRE compulsory in all secondary schools,
not just council-maintained ones, could make a real difference in
reversing this trend, by preparing pupils for adulthood and
enabling them to better take care of themselves and future
partners.
“The focus needs to be on arming them with the knowledge they
need to tackle what lies ahead. Life as a teenager is complicated
enough.
“While parents should have the right to remove their children
from SRE, the evidence suggests that when designed and delivered
in the right way, SRE can have a really positive impact on a
pupil’s development.”
