§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to ensure that(a) all pupils both in public and private sector schools receive sex education and (b) teachers are sufficiently trained to deal with the issues involved.
§ Mr. ForthUnder the Education Act 1993, all maintained secondary schools will from autumn 1994 be required to provide sex education for all their pupils, while at maintained primary schools it will remain discretionary. At all maintained schools, parents will have the right to withdraw their children from part or all of the sex education offered. We plan to issue detailed guidance to schools next spring on the operation of these arrangements and the content of sex education. These statutory102W arrangements do not apply to independent schools. The grants for education support and training programme has provided support for relevant in-service teacher training.