Sex and Relationship Education Guidance
By DfEE
Review
These government guidelines published in July 2000 aim to set out the framework within which schools should teach on the subject of sex and relationships. The majority of the guidance revolves around sex education as part of the overall curriculum.
With regard to marriage the guide says little. The introduction, para 4, says "As part of sex and relationship education, pupils should be taught about the nature and importance of marriage for family life and bringing up children. But the Government recognises - as in the Home Office, Ministerial Group on the Family consultation document "Supporting Families" - that there are strong and mutually supportive relationships outside marriage. Therefore pupils should learn the significance of marriage and stable relationships [our italics] as key building blocks of community and society." The guide also makes it clear "There should be no direct promotion of sexual orientation."
We consider it a sad reflection of today's society that the Government wishes to establish in our children's minds the perception that heterosexual marriage is just "one form" of stable relationship. We must leave it to individual schools, governing bodies and parents to ensure that individual school policies are developed which clearly set out the unique qualities of marriage embodied in the publicly stated personal commitment to a relationship that is exclusive and lifelong, and is intended for the pro-creation of children.
The guide (Ref DfEE 0116/2000) is available from:-
DfEE Publications
PO Box 5050
Annesley,
Nottingham, NG15 0DJ
Tel 0845 6022260