Most people back schools giving lessons about porn and sexting

● Poll findings to fuel demand for sex education to be compulsory

A large majority of Britons think children should be taught about pornography and sexting in schools, according to a new survey.

The findings will fuel demands for sex and relationship education to be made compulsory in all schools in the UK.

The poll of 2,000 adults found 75 per cent of Britons want children to be taught about the impact of pornography, while just 7 per cent were opposed to the move.

The survey, commissioned by the charity Plan International UK and carried out by Opinium, also found 71 per cent want lessons on sexting.

And 86 per cent of those surveyed think sexual consent should be taught while 82 per cent want lessons to cover violence and abuse in relationships.

Plan International UK’S chief executive, Tanya Barron, said: “It’s clear that the UK public including parents, feel that educating our children about issues such as sexual consent, different sexual orientations and the impact of pornography is important.

“Parents are simply demanding that their children’s education reflects the 21st century reality of their lives.

“Children today can be exposed to all sorts of sexual

0 According to a poll 71 per cent of Britons thought children should be given lessons to inform them on the dangers of sexting have to. Parents can opt to take their children out of these classes.

Conservative MP Maria Miller heads the Women and Equalities Committee and was one of five select committee chairs who last year wrote to Education Secretary Justine Greening to demand a change in policy.

She said: “Digital mobile phones and 24-hour-a-day access to the online world are an everyday part of British childhood.

“As a result most children will have seen online pornography before they leave primary school and will have been asked for a sexual digital image of themselves by a friend before they leave secondary school.

“Parents and children know they need help and that is why I want compulsory lessons at school to help children better understand the signs of an abusive relationship.”