Young people’s charity Brook today called on the Prime Minister to take immediate action on SRE when a new poll demonstrated 88% of parents of children aged 18 or under support the teaching of SRE in all schools. The online YouGov poll came during a week when the Commons Education Committee took further evidence in an inquiry into PSHE education, including SRE.
Chief Executive of Brook, Simon Blake OBE, said:
"This poll adds to the overwhelming support for SRE to be taught in all schools. It comes in the same week that the Chair of the Education Select Committee criticised schools for not doing enough to teach about cyberbullying and held an inquiry into PSHE and SRE where cyberbullying would be addressed. Talk is great, but David Cameron said we must do better nearly a year ago but we have seen too little action from Government.”
Vicki Shotbolt of The Parent Zone said:
“Parents know that good quality SRE helps them to protect young people. Parents want it, young people want it, teachers want it and it’s time for the Prime Minister to act. After three recent child abuse inquiries called for statutory SRE, we cannot afford further delay.”
Justine Roberts, Mumsnet CEO, was not surprised by the findings of the poll:
“This new survey echoes what Mumsnet users have been telling us for some time: parents want SRE in schools to be compulsory and comprehensive, and for teachers to be given the support they need to deliver it. Good SRE builds self-confidence and good relationships, and helps to teach children how to stay safe, online and in face-to-face situations. All the evidence suggests that parents strongly support its inclusion in the curriculum - not as a replacement for what happens at home, but in partnership with parents and carers.”
Ends
For media enquiries please contact Brook’s press office on 020 7284 6046 or email press@brook.org.uk
Notes to editors
For media enquiries please contact Brook's press office on 07789 682831 or email press@brook.org.uk
Notes to editors
Brook believes that young people should have access to great sexual health services and wellbeing support.
Brook provides free and confidential sexual health information, contraception, pregnancy testing, advice and counselling, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and education programmes, reaching nearly 235,000 young people nationwide every year.
Read our Strategic Plan 2017-2020 and learn more about the difference we make in our latest Success Report.