Sex education must cover porn, says children's commissioner

The urgent call for action comes on the back of a report highlighting links between children’s access to pornography and risky behaviour such as having sex at a younger age.

The report, Basically... Porn is Everywhere, also found that accidental access to pornography is more common than deliberate access, and the likelihood of exposure increases with age.

The Office of the Children’s Commissioner has recommended that the government ensure schools deliver “effective” relationship and sex education, including safe use of the internet.

It also calls for a national awareness campaign to teach parents and professionals working with children and young people about the issue.

The Home Office and Department for Education have been urged by the commissioner to undertake research into the safeguarding implications of exposure to pornography on children and young people, particularly in relation to teenage relationship abuse and peer exploitation.

Maggie Atkinson, children’s commissioner for England said: “We are living at a time when violent and sadistic imagery is readily available to very young children. Even if they do not go searching for it, their friends may show it to them or they may stumble on it whilst using the internet.

"We all have a duty to protect children from harm, and the time has come for immediate and decisive action to do so.”

Lucy Emmerson, co-ordinator of the Sex Education Forum at the National Children’s Bureau, said sex and relationships education (SRE) must be given enough time in the timetable, and be taught by trained teachers.

“Good SRE promotes core values of respect, non-violence and care for each other and this should extend to any topic, for example a discussion in secondary school about issues to do with pornography or sexting.

“Teachers should make it absolutely clear what is illegal and that young people understand what consent is. Good teaching will help protect pupils from finding pornography by accident and turning to it as a source of 'sex education'.

“There also needs to be adequate support for parents, as many want to take more of a role in talking to their children about growing up, sex and relationships at home.”