Government to make SRE compulsory from 2019

Education Secretary Justine Greening said that in addition to putting SRE on a statutory footing, the government also intends to make personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education compulsory in the future.

However, parents will continue to have a right to withdraw their children from sex education.

Greening said the government will make the changes by tabling an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill. Schools will be required to teach the subject from September 2019.

"The statutory guidance for sex and relationships education was introduced in 2000 and is becoming increasingly outdated," a written ministerial statement made by Greening said.

"It fails to address risks to children that have grown in prevalence over the last 17 years, including cyber bullying, ‘sexting' and staying safe online.

"Parents will continue to have a right to withdraw their children from sex education. Schools will have flexibility over how they deliver these subjects, so they can develop an integrated approach that is sensitive to the needs of the local community; and, as now, faith schools will continue to be able to teach in accordance with the tenets of their faith."

Greening said the Department for Education will lead a comprehensive programme of engagement to set out age-appropriate subject content and identify the support schools need to deliver high-quality teaching.

Regulations and statutory guidance will then be subject to full public consultation before being introduced.

The proposed amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill will also create a power enabling the government to make regulations requiring PSHE to be taught in academies and maintained schools - the subject is already compulsory in independent schools.

"By creating a power on PSHE, we are allowing time to consider what the right fit of this subject is with relationships education and relationships and sex education," Greening said.

The move comes amid growing pressure from campaigners and MPs. The government previously blocked an attempt by Labour to introduce compulsory SRE through an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill.

Barnardo's chief executive, Javed Khan, said: "We are thrilled the government has listened to our campaign to provide all school children with age-appropriate school lessons on sex and healthy relationships to help keep them safe.

"Barnardo's has long campaigned for this vital education so children can better understand the dangers in the real world and online. We believe this will give children the knowledge and skills they need to help prevent them being groomed and sexually exploited."

Russell Hobby, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: "NAHT have long advocated age-appropriate sex education and PSHE for all pupils in all schools, to help prepare young people for the challenges they will encounter in their adult lives and the current challenges they will face beyond the school gates.

"We welcome the duties set out today and look forward to playing our part in ensuring SRE/PSHE delivers for young people."