§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will arrange for his letter in answer to the questions listed in theOfficial Report, 5 November, column 493, to be published in the Official Report.
§ Mr. ForthThe text of the letter was as follows
I promised to write to you in response to two recent Parliamentary Questions about sex education. I am sorry that the strict timetable imposed by prorogation of Parliament meant that I was unable to answer fully at the time.In Question No 296 you asked whether (a) abortion and (b) contraception will be considered as biological or other aspects of human sexual behaviour in our planned guidance to schools on sex education. That guidance will make clear that with effect from the beginning of the Autumn term 1994, the Order for National Curriculum science will require pupils at key stage 3 (aged 11-14) to study:life processes … growth, reproduction … particularly as they relate to human beings;" andthe physical and emotional changes that take place during adolescence".It follows that discussion of contraception or abortion will not be a statutory requirement of the National Curriculum in science. These topics would be candidates for inclusion instead in the programmes of sex education which all secondary schools will be required to provide. The detailed content of those programmmes will, however, be for the schools themselves to decide, in the light of the guidance we will be offering.Turning to Question 297, you asked what definition will be given in our planned guidance to schools to help teachers distinguish between biological and other aspects of human sexual behaviour. As I have already explained, the Circular will remind schools of the statutory requirements of National Curriculum 51W science. It will also offer schools advice and models of good practice to help them draw up their programmes of sex education. We will shortly be issuing a draft of the Circular for consultation.I hope this is helpful.