Sex education guidance highlights technology risks

The supplementary advice for teachers on sex and relationships education (SRE) provides information on pornography, sexual consent and violence in relationships – all topics that are missing from current Department for Education guidance, published in 2000.

It will also advise teachers on how to teach about the dangers of cyberbullying and sexting.

The Sex and Relationships Education for the 21st Century guidance – created by sexual health charity Brook, the PSHE Association and the Sex Education Forum – follows criticism from Ofsted about the quality of SRE taught in schools.

A report by the inspectorate, published in May last year, revealed that SRE required improvement in a third of schools.

Joe Hayman, chief executive of the PSHE Association, said teachers must be able to answer pupils’ questions about the sex and relationships issues.

He said: “Our members tell us that the training they receive and the resources at their disposal too often leave them unprepared when it comes to teaching this vital subject – something confirmed by Ofsted in 2013.

“The supplementary advice is designed to help schools to find answers to some of the questions which DfE guidance does not answer.”

Christine Blower, general secretary of the Nation Union of Teachers, has welcomed the guidance and said it is vital that teachers are supported to deal with the issues.

She said: “It is important for all children and young people to learn, in an appropriate manner, about respect for their own and other people’s bodies and emotions.

“This is all the more important given the progress in technology and the need to protect young people from inappropriate online content across a wide range of platforms.”

A spokeswoman for the DfE said it would make schools aware of the guidance.

She said: “We think expert groups have a valuable role to play in helping schools deliver SRE which is up to date with the modern world.

“Many schools will welcome this additional resource.”