English children aged five to get sex education

Children as young as five will be given sex education under Government plans to cut teenage pregnancy and sexually-transmitted diseases, as well as education about the danger of narcotics and alcohol, The Times reports.

Pupils will get basic classes in identifying body parts in the first few years of primary school. In later years, they will be required to have more structured lessons about reproduction and relationships, a major review will recommend.

At secondary level, schools should improve the way issues such as civil partnerships and the importance of marriage are covered. Teachers will also be given training in delivering lessons amid fears too many are embarrassed to discuss sex in the classroom.

The Government has already admitted that sex and relationship education across England is too "patchy". To allay concerns, ministers are expected to announce a consultation ahead of the implantation of the lessons on whether or not to give parents an opportunity to withdraw their children.

In a further move, ministers will also announce a radical shake-up of the way children are taught about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Jim Knight, the Schools Minister, who has led the review, insisted exposure to sex education before puberty reduced teenage pregnancy rates. "It is important that we as a society allow better sex and relationship education in both primary and secondary schools without sexualising young people too early," he said. "It is right to share the responsibility between home and school."

At present, all primary and secondary pupils have to learn about the biology of reproduction in science. In primary schools, pupils should learn about how animals and humans reproduce, but can limit lessons to the biology curriculum.

In secondary schools, teachers must go further, covering issues such as relationships and sexually transmitted diseases. Lessons on civil partnerships and marriage are also offered at secondary level but they are non-statutory.

It follows the publication of Government figures earlier this year showing that the number of abortions in girls under 16 last year rose 10 per cent to 4,376.

Primary school pupils will be given warnings on avoiding medicines and prescription drugs left in the home - as well recognising the difference between soft drinks and alcohol.

Stephen Burgess, national director of Life Education Centres, the health charity, said: "If we want to make a real and lasting difference to teenage drug and alcohol misuse, we must reach them early - at primary school. Then, as they reach adolescence and are most at risk from peer influence, they can make informed decisions based on fact rather than hearsay.

Source: InoPressa