Sex education is set to be banned from being taught to children under nine in Cumbrian schools.
The ban comes as part of a new UK guidelines set to be published later this year that will change guidance on relationships, sex and health education.
The government has today announced that it is asking for views from parents, schools and others via a consultation before the guidance is finalised.
As part of the new guidance, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has announced further restrictions on teaching about gender and identity.
Teachers are being told to make clear that ‘gender ideology’ discussions relating to changing gender is ‘highly contested’ and ‘should not be taught’ in classrooms.
The government said it believed that teaching gender ideology in the classroom could prompt some children to start to question their gender when they may not have done so otherwise.
The facts about biological sex and gender reassignment will still be taught.
Age limits are also being introduced in a bid to make sure children aren’t being taught about ‘sensitive and complex subjects before they are ‘fully ready’ to understand them.
In primary school, subjects including the risks around online gaming, social media and scams will not be taught before year three.
Puberty will not be taught before year four and sex education will not be taught before year five – which falls in line with what pupils learn about conception and birth as part of the national curriculum for science.
In secondary school, issues regarding sexual harassment will not be taught before year seven, direct references to suicide before year eight and any explicit discussion of sexual activity before year nine – when a child is 13.
The new guidelines will also contain a transparency section, in a bid to make it more clear that parents have a legal right to know what their children are being taught in sex education and can request to see teaching materials.
Several new subjects are also set to be added to the curriculum as well as more detail on others. These include:
- Suicide prevention
- Sexual harassment and sexual violence
- Loneliness
- The prevalence of ‘deepfakes’
- Healthy behaviours during pregnancy, as well as miscarriage
- Illegal online behaviours including drug and knife supply
- The dangers of vaping
- Menstrual and gynaecological health including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and heavy menstrual bleeding.
Following the consultation, the guidance will be statutory, which means schools must follow it unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for the guidance to be reviewed after hearing concerns from Conservative MP’s that some children were being exposed to ‘age-inappropriate content’ through sex education.
Last year, over 50 Conservative MPs led by MP Miriam Cates – including Cumbria’s Simon Fell – wrote to the prime minister claiming children were being ‘indoctrinated with radical and unevidenced ideologies about sex and gender’.
The government has said it believes that the new guidance will give teachers support and will reassure parents.
Previously – The National Association of Head Teachers has said the review into changing guidance on sex education was ‘deeply concerning’ and argued the review is ‘politically motivated’.
It added that there is no evidence to suggest a widespread problem with pupils being presented with age-inappropriate materials.
What are children learning in sex education?
Relationships, sex and health education is mandatory teaching in all secondary schools in England while relationships education is mandatory for primary schools.
Under current guidelines, primary schools are able to decide whether or not they need to cover sex education to meet the needs of their pupils.
Sex education topics in primary school cover physical health, parts of the body, boundaries and puberty.
At this age, children are also taught about healthy, respectful relationships, focusing on family and friendships, which also include those online and on social media.
The government also currently encourages schools to include teaching about different kinds of families and same-sex relationships.
In secondary schools, relationships and sex education cover a wider range of topics including sex, sexual relationships, consent, online abuse, domestic abuse and female genital mutilation.
Schools are able to decide how they deliver sex education and external organisations can be brought in to give workshops.
All topics must be covered sensitively and through an age appropriate approach and content.
Parents have and still have the right to withdraw their child from sex education, but not from the essential content covered in relationships education.
