Compulsory Sex Education: Good news?

It has recently been in the news that the government have announced a decision to make sex education compulsory for all pupils. To clarify for those of you teaching in the UK either through Classroom or other mediums, sex education will be taught in both Primary and Secondary schools but parents will have the option to opt their child out of these lessons until the age of 15 when all students MUST receive at least one full year of sex and relationship lessons. Any students who might refuse attendance for religious or moral reasons could possibly be punished by the school for non attendance. Until recently, parents have been able to pull their children out of classes which might cover contraception, STD's and homosexuality. This will no longer be possible. As one might imagine, Roman Catholic and Muslim groups are strongly opposing the legislation.

The government have backed up their decision by providing the following statistics: Teenage pregnancies are on the rise and in 2007 there were 41.9 conceptions per 1000 15 - 17 year olds which was up from 40.9 the previous year. Whilst currently all school children must be taught the biological facts of life - the new curriculum will cover marriage including civil partnerships and more relationship issues as well as the sex basics! The governments own research has shown that this new legislation is heavily opposed. Its certainly a sensitive issue.

Sarah Ebner in her superb Times ed blog is certainly on the side of the government in making these sex lessons (covering all aspects of sex AND relationships) mandatory and I am inclined to agree with her thinking. She is quite right in her suggestion that surely all children should "learn about their bodies, relationships, careers and sex education" and that schools "should have some leeway in how these subjects are taught". In fact Ebner goes as far as to suggest that parents will still be able to opt their children out of these lessons up to the age of 15. Her concern is that its the children of parents who opt out who probably need the information the most.

I certainly agree that not knowing about sex is more dangerous than being informed. Surely schools have a right to educate and inform and this should include looking at relationships (both heterosexual and homosexual), boy/girl differences, body image etc? Knowing just the biology of sex isn't always enough and won't necessarily get to the root of the growing teenage pregnancies and failing sexual health of the UK's teenagers. A lot of critics have suggested that it's a parents job to educate on these matters and that's true, but as Ebner points out, not ALL parents will have these conversations with their children and if they do then great, schools will simply be reinforcing what the parents have taught.

Surely the critics need to reassess? At the end of the day the government is not advocating the teaching of "how to have sex" or promoting sex in any way, shape or form. The lessons will form part of a clear curriculum covering not only sex and sexual health but relationships, drugs, bullying and more. Invaluable surely?

Its a contentious issue for sure. What do readers think? Should sex education be mandatory or (given certain religious and ethical issues) should the opt out clause remain in place?