The Accord Coalition on inclusive schooling has reacted with dismay
to the news that the government will not consider making Sex and
Relationships Education (SRE) part of the National Curriculum.
It is
urging a rethink on the issue.
Responding to a written question from the Liberal Democrat MP Annette
Brooke, the Minister of State for Schools, Nick Gibb MP, who met with
Accord last year, has revealed that SRE will not come within the scope
of the government’s forthcoming National Curriculum review.
Chair of the Accord Coalition, Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain said that
"all children should be entitled to high standard Sex and Relationships
Education. It is beyond belief that the Government does not intend to
make SRE a requirement in all schools, when we know that good age
appropriate SRE reduces unwanted pregnancies, the spread of sexually
transmitted infections and gives children the tools to be clear about
personal boundaries, resist pressure, to seek help when they need it and
to challenge misleading and inappropriate messages in the media."
Dr Romain continued: "Current SRE provision in the UK lags behind
that of many developed countries and at present schools only have to
teach the basic elements of human biology as they appear in the science
curriculum. There can be little wonder therefore as to why the UK has
growing rates of STIs and the highest teenage pregnancy rates in Western
Europe."
"There is widespread support for making SRE part of the National
Curriculum among educationalists, religion and belief groups, health
organisations, as well as in parliament and among parents, schools and
young people. The last Government came within a whisker of making SRE
part of the National Curriculum and our continued failure to ensure that
all schools provide thorough, accurate and balanced SRE undermines the
future health and wellbeing of our children.
"We challenge the Government to spell out why it is denying the next
generation the vital tools it needs to navigate its way through life",
said Dr Romain.
The Accord Coalition is an alliance of religious and non-religious
groups seeking inclusive schooling and the reform of faith schools to
ensure equal access, fair treatment and opportunity for all.
Its founding members are the Association of Teachers and Lecturers,
the Christian think-tank Ekklesia and the British Humanist Association -
along with individual and corporate supporters from Muslim, Jewish,
Hindu and other backgrounds.
Accord: www.accordcoalition.org.uk/
SIC: Ekklesia/UK