Sunak orders rethink on ‘inappropriate’ sex education
Prime Minister brings forward review in wake of Telegraph revelations of sexually graphic content
RISHI SUNAK has ordered an urgent review of sex education after The Daily Telegraph exposed evidence of the widespread teaching of “age-inappropriate” materials in schools.
MPS welcomed the news but warn the review must be independent as the Department for Education (Dfe) has created “confusing” guidance on Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE).
This week, nearly 50 Conservative MPS wrote to the Prime Minister urging him to launch an independent inquiry into “age-inappropriate” sex education following evidence that graphic sexual content and gender ideology was being widely taught in schools.
The letter, coordinated by Miriam Cates, MP for Penistone and Stockbridge, was signed by Priti Patel, the former home secretary, Simon Clarke, the former levelling up secretary, and former education ministers Jonathan Gullis, Andrea Jenkyns, Brendan Clarke-smith and Kelly Tolhurst.
It came after The Telegraph revealed last week that some 13-year-old pupils have been taught there are 100 genders, while in some schools children as young as 12 have been asked how they feel about oral and anal sex.
Yesterday, Mr Sunak told the Commons that he would now bring forward a review into sex education.
He said he had asked the DFE to “ensure that schools are not teaching inappropriate or contested content”, adding: “Our priority should always be the safety and wellbeing of children.
“As a result of all of this, we are bringing forward a review of RSHE statutory guidance and we will start our consultation as soon as possible.”
In the Commons, Mrs Cates said: “Graphic lessons on oral sex. How to choke your partner safely, and 72 genders. This is what passes for relationships and sex education in schools.
“Across the country children are being subjected to lessons that are age-inappropriate, extreme, sexualising and inaccurate, often using resources from unregulated organisations that are actively campaigning to undermine parents. This is not a victory for equality, it is a catastrophe for childhood.”
Mrs Cates has warned that the Dfe’s latest RSHE guidance, produced in 2019 in consultation with Stonewall, an LGBT charity, allowed “activist groups” to overly influence teaching materials.
She said: “I am pleased that the PM is taking this issue seriously and shares our concerns about inappropriate RSHE.”
James Bowen, the director of policy at the National Association of Head Teachers, said the union was “deeply concerned” by the announcement.
“The overwhelming majority of schools are doing nothing more than following the Government’s own statutory guidance when it comes to relationships and sex education,” he said.