The Sex Education Forum is concerned that the new curriculum, which will be taught in schools from September 2014, fails to cover sexual health or ask teachers to even name sexual body parts.
The only human body parts teachers are advised to cover in science lessons are internal organs, including the circulatory system and skeleton. The national curriculum document also covers reproduction, but only advises teaches to cover the topic in terms of gestation periods.
Jane Lees, chair of the Sex Education Forum, says: “The Sex Education Forum is disappointed that the new national curriculum presents a confusing picture about sex education that will hinder teaching about this vital subject. While puberty is clearly included in science, teachers are discouraged from explaining how reproduction occurs and about hormones.
“Omitting sexual health from the curriculum fails to prepare children properly for adult life. The government has missed a perfect opportunity to link up their education policy with their stated commitment to improving the nation’s sexual health.”
The curriculum reiterates that sex and relationships education (SRE) is statutory in secondary schools, but up to the discretion of primary school heads and principals of academies.
The curriculum document advises schools to develop SRE lessons within their personal, social and health education (PSHE) programmes and to follow government SRE guidance that dates back to 2000.
But Natika Halil, director of health and wellbeing at sexual health charity FPA, is critical of the government’s failure to update this guidance, which she says fails to take into account online issues such as internet pornography.
She said: “We live in a different world now, where young people can so easily be exposed to confusing and misleading sexual imagery and content on the internet and on mobiles and smart phones.?
“Despite recent assurances from David Cameron that he would support SRE being ‘up to date on the problems of the internet’, there is nothing in the government’s new guidance to help teachers broach some of these very real and very modern issues.”
A DfE spokeswoman said: "The new science curriculum includes as much sex education as the current curriculum. Children will continue to be taught about their bodies, physical development and reproduction. We expect teachers to cover sexual health when they teach about reproduction.
"The Secretary of State's statutory guidance ensures all pupils receive age-appropriate sex and relationship education. Pupils must learn about sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS, as well as the importance of stable relationships and marriage. They must also learn how the law applies to sexual relationships and understand concepts such as sexual consent. This has not changed."
The curriculum urges schools to seek expert advice when developing PSHE sessions including those covering SRE.
