§ Lord Grantleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are the main statutory requirements regarding the provision of sex education in primary schools, and the provision of a sex education policy by primary school governors; and what is their policy on these matters.
§ The Minister of State, Department for Education and Employment (Baroness Blackstone)In maintained primary schools, the governing bodies have the responsibility of considering whether or at what stage to offer sex education. They must keep an up-to-date written statement of the policy they choose to adopt, which must be available to parents.
Voluntary Aided and Special Agreement schools are not specifically required to consider providing sex education but are required to have regard to the policy of the local education authority as to the secular curriculum in its schools.
Sex education in all maintained schools must be provided in such a manner as to encourage young people to have regard to moral considerations and the value of family life. Parents of a child may, if they wish, withdraw their child from all or part of the sex education provided outside the National Curriculum.