Sex and relationships education (SRE) is learning about the emotional, social and physical aspects of growing up, relationships, sex, human sexuality and sexual health. Important themes that are at the core of childhood development and have an enormous impact on adult life.
And yet, it is not compulsory for schools to teach it. Speaking to Headteacher Update, Lucy Emmerson from the Sex Education Forum explained the situation at present: "Currently sex and relationships education is not statutory, it is only basic biology that is required and this applies to maintained schools only – leaving out free schools and academies.
"This is unacceptable, and means that many children and young people are growing up without vital age-appropriate information, for example about appropriateness versus abusive behaviour and about sexual health and relationships."
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