Schools instructed not to provide sex education to children under nine years old

The Department for Education (DfE) in England is set to release draft revised guidance on relationships, sex, and health education (RSHE), which includes a controversial proposal to prohibit the teaching of sex education to children under the age of nine. Concerns have been raised about children being exposed to “inappropriate” content, leading to the introduction of new age ratings for RSHE materials.

The revised guidance will also exclude the teaching of gender identity concepts in schools and introduce a section on sexual harassment and violence, covering issues like stalking and online misogyny. Parents will have the right to review the resources used for RSHE teaching, and copyright laws will not hinder sharing materials with families.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan emphasized the importance of protecting children and ensuring that curriculum content is age-appropriate. The draft guidance will open for consultation, proposing that sex education should not be taught before Year 5 and focusing on a scientific approach. Secondary school students will learn about protected characteristics, but gender identity will not be included in the curriculum.

While some organizations like the Sex Education Forum charity have expressed concerns about restricting topics, the National Association of Head Teachers has called for evidence to support the age limits. The debate continues on whether rigid limits on sex education topics and age bands are in the best interest of young people, with some advocating for a more comprehensive and evidence-based approach to empower and protect children and young people.