Local MP for Basingstoke, Maria Miller has welcomed today’s new government consultation updating Relationship and Sex Education for the first time in 17 years.
Maria Miller, with more than 30 other MPs succeeded this year in amending the Children & Social Work Act to make Relationship & Sex Education compulsory for all school children for the first time. The move followed the 2016 Women and Equalities Select Committee report on sexual harassment in schools and research showing the growing prevalence of sexting and viewing of online pornography amongst children.
Maria said, " The world in which children grow up has changed dramatically over the past 17 years but guidance given to schools on Relationship & Sex Education has stayed the same. Successive governments have not acted to keep this guidance relevant and it now predates the internet age which is totally unacceptable.
"Parents have the ultimate responsibility in making sure their children understand the world in which we live and in particular what is a good and healthy relationship. But schools have a critical role to ensure every child gets the right information to make good decisions in an increasingly sexualised world. The internet has revolutionised our children's lives but they still need to be taught how to make the right decisions. The guidance given to schools on relationship and sex education needs to be up to date and reflect the modern challenges children face. Understanding issues of consent, the harmful effects of online pornography & sexting have to be part of any child's education. This new consultation will help make that happen.
"We owe it to our children to make sure they have the information they need as they navigate an increasingly complex world."
Further information is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/education-secretary-launches-rse-cal…