What do children and young people want?
The UK Youth Parliament carried out extensive research to obtain children's and young people's views of SRE, and also held a young people's residential workshop in summer 2008 at which young people created a charter for good SRE. These are their recommendations:
To make sure all children and young people receive SRE, we want schools to:
- Make SRE (PSHE) compulsory and give it the same importance as other curriculum subjects.
- Provide all pupils with SRE, regardless of their gender, ability, sexual orientation or faith, and make sure the curriculum is inclusive.
- Have better communication with young people; let them participate in setting the agenda and base SRE on their needs.
- Make sure SRE is given a timetabled slot, is regular, and that catch-up lessons are given if any are missed. SRE should be taught at appropriate stages, and start young.
- Have better communication with parents and be more open and confident about their curriculum.
- Let all pupils have SRE regardless of the type of school. Faith schools should not be a barrier to SRE and if they will not teach it there needs to be an alternative place to learn.
- Make sure all staff teaching SRE are trained and have enough funding for SRE resources.
- Teach a broad range of topics, not just about reproduction.
- Ensure SRE is interesting, relevant and practical and is taught in a safe relaxed environment – not using scare tactics.
- Allow teachers to give out free condoms and make sure all pupils are aware of their local sexual health clinics.
(This charter was written by young people participating in a Sex Education Forum residential workshop in August 2008).
