Children's Legal Centre, discusses recent research carried out by the centre in light of an upcoming government inquiry into SRE.
The education select committee has announced an inquiry into personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) and sex and relationships education (SRE) in schools. As part of this inquiry, the committee has called for evidence on a number of issues, including on the overall provision of SRE in schools and the quality of its teaching. The ability for children and young people to receive age-appropriate, quality SRE is crucial: it is essential for ensuring that children and young people can make healthy, informed decisions, and is also important in ensuring that schools meet their safeguarding obligations and their obligations under the Children Act 2004 to promote children's wellbeing. Ofsted inspections have found that SRE needs improving in one-third of schools and Ofsted has been clear that a lack of quality SRE leaves pupils vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
While the Government has made it clear that all state schools "should make provision for personal, social, health and economic education, drawing on good practice", and that SRE is an important part of this education, SRE is not part of the National Curriculum in England.
Coram Children's Legal Centre, in collaboration with the International Planned Parenthood Federation, recently carried out research on the legal barriers to young people accessing sexual and reproductive health services in three countries, including the UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland). The research, which involved the collection of qualitative data from young people and service providers through individual interviews and focus group discussions, made some key findings on young people's experiences and perceptions of SRE.
Key findings
Young people involved in the research in all locations recognised the importance of SRE, and some commented that they considered access to information and quality SRE to be the most important element of good sexual health. These young people tended to link increased education to being better able to protect themselves and make healthy, informed decisions.
There was found to be wide variation in the extent and quality of SRE in schools according to research participants, including both young people and service providers. This may be a consequence of SRE not forming part of the National Curriculum. Some young people reported that SRE was delivered too late in their curriculum, and some mentioned that they only received SRE through watching several videos or a few "special" lessons, which may serve to reinforce the idea that SRE is something "extra", undermining its importance.
Many young people expressed disappointment that their SRE was limited to the biological aspects of sex and reproduction, and focused almost exclusively on prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Education about healthy relationships and emotional elements of sexual health was perceived to be greatly lacking, as were discussions around violence and consent. This was perceived by service providers to be undermining the ability for young people to recognise and enjoy healthy relationships.
The vast majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) young people participating in the study reported that the SRE delivered in their school did not provide them with information on sexual health issues that apply to them, as SRE was based on the premise that all students are heterosexual. Some reported that their school appeared reluctant to provide SRE that is explicitly relevant to LGBTI young people.
The research found that, in the absence of comprehensive SRE, young people are turning to alternative information sources to seek out the information they feel is "missing". These sources include service providers (where possible), friends, parents and mass media, such as television, magazines and, in particular, the internet. Reliance on information online is potentially damaging, as some young people may not always be able to distinguish sites that are reliable from those that are not.
