Primary schools 'ill-prepared' for relationship education requirements

Under government plans announced in March, sex and relationships education will be compulsory in all secondary schools from 2019. Primary schools will be required to teach pupils about healthy relationships, but not sex, although they will be free to deliver sex education outside of the science curriculum if they wish. 

However, a survey by the charity Coram Life Education (CLE) of 85 primary school head teachers and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education specialists found that two thirds need more guidance about the new requirements.

One in three said they need more help with tailoring SRE to children's needs. Most said they feel confident in teaching about friendships and family but called for more support and guidance on issues such as puberty, reproduction, feelings, staying safe and consent.

In April, education minister Lord Nash said the government wants schools to engage with parents on whether children should be taught about sex from an early age, but three quarters of those surveyed by CLE said they needed more advice on consulting parents about SRE.

CLE, together with insurer Ecclesiastical, which was also involved in compiling the survey, has developed a relationships education programme to support primary schools, covering guidance on engaging with parents about SRE.

"Only four years ago, Ofsted stated that primary schools were ‘leaving pupils ill-prepared for physical and emotional changes during puberty often experienced before children reach secondary school," said Harriet Gill, managing director of Coram's education programmes.

"We believe this programme is an important step forward in meeting children and young people's needs, and entitlement, to education in healthy friendships and relationships, puberty and reproduction, staying safe and consent."

The survey also revealed that friendship issues are the biggest issue faced by children, cited by 83 per cent of head teachers and PSHE specialists.

Other issues include low self-esteem, which was cited by 72 per cent, while 49 per cent mentioned body image issues.

In years 5 and 6 (ages nine to 11) 63 per cent of primary schools teach about puberty, but just 19 per cent cover self-esteem, body image and feelings and only 16 per cent teach about staying safe and issues around consent.