For today’s generation of young people, life has changed rapidly, and their education simply hasn’t kept pace. The challenges and pressures faced by pupils have not been dealt with in existing sex education lessons, with too many missing out and schools suffering from a lack of consistent support and up to date guidance. That’s why I’m urging MPs from all parties to put their politics aside and rewrite this wrong by voting in favour of the government’s new relationships and sex education (RSE) proposals.
Since the last sex education guidance was written nearly 20 years ago, there has been sweeping social change. We’ve had the introduction of the historic Equalities Act, family life has changed and so too has the way in which young people can access information. Children need the right teaching to provide the building blocks they need to form healthy and respectful relationships.
We know what the consequences of patchy sex education looks like. The Terrence Higgins Trust found that over 50% of young people describe their sex and relationships lessons as either ‘poor’ or ‘terrible’, and Stonewall has found that half of young people who identify as LGBT have face bullying at school. The Sex Education Forum found that a third of young people don’t learn about female genital mutilation at school. These issues cover so many aspects of adult life and demonstrate how important it is to get these lessons right in all schools.
Despite what the Leader of the House said, LGBT issues are not something detached from the society our young people are growing up in, to which they are “exposed”. They are issues that will affect their friends, family, teachers and of course many of those young people themselves.
That’s why I was proud to support legislation in 2017 enshrining in law that relationships and sex education lessons would become compulsory in all secondary schools in England, and relationships education provided in all primary schools. This was a genuinely cross-party effort. MPs across the House recognised that for our children and grandchildren’s sake, we needed to make a real and lasting change for future generations.
I pay tribute to the young campaigners who shared their stories of what impact bad sex education has had on their lives, and the range of organisations – from mental health to equalities and sexual health – who amplified their voices.
Some of the issues young people today face are a million miles away from when I was at school. As our society changes, so too must the lessons in our schools. It’s not good enough for young people to learn about relationships and sex through whispers in the playground or inaccurate posts on the internet.
I firmly believe in the power of our teachers and our schools to empower young people in navigating the journey to adulthood. Whether that be stigma surrounding periods, body image or pornography, it’s so important that what young people are exposed to outside the classroom can be discussed in a safe and respectful environment.
We know there remain hurdles to overcome. Schools are struggling to cope with cuts, and must receive funding so they can access the resources to deliver lessons, and teachers must have the training they need to have confidence in the classroom. I will be pressing the government to ensure they deliver.
But when we come to vote, MPs will have the chance to implement the new RSE proposals, including the updated guidance that contains what should be included in lessons. I have welcomed the broad range of topics that will feature in RSE such as consent, where to get advice on relationships and the importance of mental wellbeing. I am in no doubt that the guidance can be strengthened further but its introduction is a hugely positive step in the right direction. I hope that the House of Commons can send a clear and unanimous message by voting for it.
In particular, I am unequivocal that there is no excuse for lessons which fail our LGBT young people. The government has said that new lessons in primary school and secondary school will be LGBT-inclusive and this is something I will fight to ensure is delivered in all schools. I want to live in a society that is underpinned by equality, tolerance and respect and that must be reflected in education.
For too long sex education in our schools has been neglected and young people have been faced with the consequences. Today we can fix this and allow our children and generations to come to enter adulthood with the best possible start.
Angela Rayner is the shadow education secretary and Labour MP forAshton-under-Lyne, Droylsden and Failsworth