§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what aims and standards his Department has for the teaching of sex education to all children; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthSection 1 of the Education Reform Act 1988 requires the curriculum of maintained schools to prepare pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. As part of that preparation, all pupils are now required to be taught those aspects of sex education contained in national curriculum science. Beyond that statutory requirement, school governing bodies are responsible, under the provisions of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, for deciding whether any further sex education should be included in their school's curriculum; and for maintaining a written record both of that decision, and the content and organisation of any sex education they decide should be provided. In addition, section 46 of the Education (No. 2) Act 1986 requires that any sex education which schools provide—whether or not it is required as part of the national curriculum—should be given in such a manner as to encourage pupils to have due regard to moral considerations and the value of family life. Detailed decisions about how such education is delivered in the classroom should take full account of local circumstances, the particular needs of pupils and the views of parents.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) in what circumstances sex education can be excluded from the teaching of human biology within the national curriculum;
(2) if he will give details of the circumstances in which teachers and parents may withdraw children from lessons about HIV and AIDS.
§ Mr. ForthThere is no statutory right of withdrawal from the secular curriculum: pupils may not be withdrawn from the teaching of any aspects of sex education provided by their school, whether or not these are required by the national curriculum. Schools should be ready to discuss with parents both their policies and approaches to sex education, and to consider any anxieties or suggestions which individual parents may have.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of school children at the ages of 11, 14 and 16 years have received sex education.