Proposal to prohibit sex education for children under the age of nine

The UK government is set to publish new guidelines that will ban schools in England from teaching sex education to children under nine years old. The move comes amid concerns about inappropriate content being taught to young children.

According to a government source, the new guidelines will also prohibit the teaching of gender identity to young children. Teachers will be required to make it clear that gender ideology is a contested issue if asked about it.

While the government believes that clearer guidance will provide support for teachers and reassurance for parents, some headteachers have expressed skepticism about the proposed changes. Rebecca Leek, head of the Suffolk Primary Headteachers’ Association, pointed out that sex education is typically not taught in primary schools until Year 6, and parents already have the right to withdraw their child from such lessons if they wish.

Pepe Di’Iasio, headteacher at a school in Rotherham, criticized the politicization of the issue, stating that teachers want well-informed and evidence-based decisions, not politicized guidance.

The National Association of Head Teachers has also raised concerns about the review, calling it politically motivated and arguing that there is no widespread problem with pupils being presented with age-inappropriate materials.

The current guidance mandates relationships, sex, and health education in all secondary schools in England, with relationships education being compulsory for primary schools since September 2020. However, primary schools currently have the discretion to decide whether they need to cover any aspect of sex education to meet the needs of their pupils.