§ Mr. CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what rights parents have to withdraw their children from the health and sex education element of National Curriculum Science at Key Stage 2 for religious reasons. [130976]
§ Jacqui SmithSection 405 of the Education Act 1996 gives parents the right to withdraw their children from any or all parts of a school's programme of sex education, but not those elements of health and sex education which are required by the National Curriculum Science Order. We encourage schools and governors to consult parents over their Sex and Relationship Education policy.