15/05/2024
The new RSHE guidance is apparently due for release tomorrow but there have been leaks stating that s*x education for under 9s will be banned, topics like domestic abuse, contraception and STIs won’t be discussed until 13 and schools won’t be able to teach gender identity!
I set up What’s The Debate to tackle domestic abuse and s*xual violence and decided to do this via RSHE because it can be a brilliant safeguarding tool to educate, raise awareness and prevent these issues. I didn’t decide to do this on a whim, I have worked in the field of domestic abuse and s*xual violence for nearly 20 years supporting children and young people as young as 5 years old. A lot of the young people I supported told me there weren’t taught things like consent, coercive control, abuse or even the correct names of their body parts. I also tell young people that I was subjected to domestic abuse and s*xual violence and I wasn’t educated on these topics at school.
Young people are already disproportionately affected by STIs. Sexual violence, s*xual bullying, misogyny and harassment in schools is such a major issue and the highest it’s ever been. P**n is a huge problem. The mental health of children and young people, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community, is at breaking point!
RSHE has always been age appropriate. It should meet the needs of the young people and take into account their voice and allow them to challenge their influences in a safe way as well as helping them to make safe, healthy and informed choices!
Restricting RSHE and for some ages, banning it, is only going to harm children and young people further. We will see an increase in abusive relationships, child on child abuse, exploitation, bullying, discrimination and so much more!
The only saving grace is once the guidance is published, it will be a draft guidance. It will need to go through public consultation and the guidance should be rewritten based on that consultation. So when that guidance comes out, please read it. It doesn’t matter if you work in education or not, read it as a parent, a nurse, a social worker, a trainer, as someone who is passionate about safeguarding, domestic abuse, LGBTQ+, mental health and when you see links asking for responses, please put forward your thoughts and views!
Prime minister accused of using children as political football over plans to ban all s*x education in primary schools until year five
