The survey, carried out for the forum by GfK NOP earlier this year, alsofound that 77 per cent of parents think schools should be required toprovide comprehensive sex and relationships education as part of thenational curriculum.
The findings support a call from the forum for personal, social andhealth education (PSHE) - which includes sex and relationships - to becompulsory. Under current legislation schools teach the biologicalaspects of sex, but there is no requirement to provide education onrelationships and the emotional aspects of sex, or life skills, such asdecision-making, peer pressure and understanding risky behaviour.
Anna Martinez, co-ordinator of the Sex Education Forum, said: "Youngpeople and parents have repeatedly told us that they want betterschool-based sex and relationships education. If we are to support thenext generation to become competent, healthy young adults, sex andrelationships education within PSHE needs to be statutory."
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