The Secretary of State for Education, Justine Greening MP, has announced the Government’s intention to make Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) statutory in all schools in England.

Deborah Gold, Chief Executive at NAT (National AIDS Trust) said: 

“We are delighted that the Government is taking this desperately needed and long-awaited step to make PSHE and SRE compulsory in all schools.  We have been failing young people for too long – with many schools having the choice not to deliver this subject at all.  Without statutory status, SRE has been under-funded and under-prioritised.  Being on the National Curriculum where it belongs is the first step to remedying this.

“We will await to see the detail of the Government’s proposals.  We are pleased that they intend to update the highly out-dated statutory guidance.  It’s essential that LGBT young people are not left behind within a new, statutory approach to SRE, as they all too often are now. The guidance must empower and support schools to talk about same-sex relationships, gender identity and information on HIV and other STIs.  All young people have a right to access information that will allow them to protect their well-being.  We therefore seek reassurance from the Government that the statutory guidance will ensure that the needs of all young people are met in PSHE and SRE.”

Notes to editors: 

About NAT

NAT (National AIDS Trust) is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to transforming society’s response to HIV. We provide fresh thinking, expertise and practical resources. We champion the rights of people living with HIV and campaign for change.

Shaping attitudes. Challenging injustice. Changing lives.

www.nat.org.uk