Last Thursday, the UK Government announced a series of updates to its statutory guidance for schools which are aimed at setting specific age limits for sex education and addressing sensitive topics. The move was prompted after multiple reports indicating instances of disturbing materials being used in Relationships, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE) lessons.
The government’s newly issued draft statutory guidance, chalked out by the Department of Education, forbids sex education prior to Year 5 and blocks the teaching of the “contested theory of gender identity”. Furthermore, it allows parental access to curriculum materials. The guidance also stipulates that any sex education imparted from Year 5 onwards should be conducted from a “purely scientific standpoint”, covering “legally protected characteristics, such as sexual orientation and gender reassignment”.
This major update follows the results of a four-year independent review led by Dr. Hillary Cass, officially known as the Final Report of the Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People, also referred to as the Cass Review.
The Cass Review unearthed that the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS), the UK’s only dedicated service catering to gender identity among children and young people, witnessed a significant surge in referrals. This has resulted in lengthy waiting lists and concerns regarding how these population groups should be correctly assessed, diagnosed, and aided by the NHS. The review also noted a considerable lack of consensus and open discussion relating to gender dysphoria and the fitting clinical response.
A press release from the government stressed that in light of the Cass Review, it’s crucial that schools adopt a cautious approach while educating about this sensitive topic and not use any materials portraying disputed views as fact, including the assertion that gender is a spectrum.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remarked that the updated curriculum guidance will ensure trust between schools and parents. Sunak indicated that, given the disturbing accounts, parents should be confident that their children are not subjected to inappropriate content for their age.
The new guidance also seeks to strengthen education concerning suicide, sexual violence and harassment and “harmful misogynistic behavior”. Proposed changes to the RSHE statutory guidance will be open for public scrutiny until July 11, 2024.