💔 Relationship Education in Schools

• Helen Maguire (Epsom and Ewell, LD) initiated the debate on the need for improved relationship education in schools to address current societal challenges, particularly violence against women and girls.

• Statistics revealed concerning trends: 41% of teachers have witnessed aggressive misogyny in classrooms, and only 43% of students feel represented by current relationships and sex education (RSE).

• The influence of social media and online sources, including pornography, was discussed as a major concern for young people’s education about relationships.

• There was a call for a whole-school approach to promote gender equality and respectful relationships as a preventive measure against violence.

• Various MPs shared personal and community experiences regarding the effects of inadequate RSE, highlighting the need for age-appropriate, comprehensive education that addresses consent and healthy relationships.

• Some MPs, like Jim Shannon (Strangford, DUP), emphasized the importance of parental rights and input in the content of RSE, expressing a need for balance between school education and family values.

• The debate also touched on the need for updated RSE guidance, including training for teachers to effectively deliver these lessons, and the integration of real-life role models to counteract negative online influences.

• Criticism was directed at the government for delays in publishing updated RSE guidance, with many urging for swift action and increased focus on prevention through education.

• The Minister for School Standards, Catherine McKinnell, acknowledged the necessity for change in RSE to counter misogyny and strengthen the skills of young people in building positive relationships.

• A new strategy on tackling violence against women and girls is expected later in the year, showing the government’s commitment to addressing these issues through education and beyond.

• The debate concluded with a broad consensus on the urgent need for comprehensive and updated RSE that includes critical skills for navigating modern relationships and the digital world, with a strong focus on prevention of violence.

The parliamentary session on relationship education in schools demonstrated a moderate level of disagreement among the participants. While the speakers largely agreed on the importance of improving relationship education to combat issues such as violence against women and girls, and the role of schools in addressing these issues, there were areas of contention and differing emphases that influenced the overall level of disagreement within the session.

1. Parental Rights vs. School Curriculum: One significant point of contention was the balance between parental rights and the content of the school curriculum. Jim Shannon (Strangford) and Rebecca Paul (Reigate) emphasized the importance of parental input and rights, expressing concerns about the potential override of community or family values by school teachings. This viewpoint contrasts with other speakers, such as Helen Maguire (Epsom and Ewell), who focused more strongly on the role of schools in providing comprehensive education without specifically addressing the balance with parental rights.

2. Content of Education and Extremism: There was a general consensus on the need to address harmful ideologies, such as those of online misogynistic influencers, within the curriculum. However, the specifics of how this should be implemented showed variation. For example, Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) added a specific concern about gender ideology and the potential dangers of schools engaging in the social transitioning of children, which differed from the more general discussions by other MPs.

3. Implementation and Focus of RSHE: There were disagreements regarding the implementation of Relationship, Sex, and Health Education (RSHE). Some speakers, like Helen Maguire and Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill), advocated for urgent reforms and better training for teachers to ensure that RSHE effectively addresses contemporary challenges faced by young people. On the other hand, Rebecca Paul (Reigate) criticized the current focus of RSHE, suggesting that it has veered away from emphasizing positive relationships between boys and girls.

4. Role of Online Platforms and Social Media: While many speakers acknowledged the role of online platforms and social media in shaping young people’s views on relationships, there were differing opinions on how to address this issue. Tulip Siddiq (Hampstead and Highgate) proposed looking at banning smartphones and social media in schools, whereas others like Wera Hobhouse (Bath) focused more on reinforcing education to counteract the influence of harmful online content.

In summary, the disagreements were primarily around the extent of parental involvement in educational content, the specific elements that should be included or omitted in the RSHE curriculum, and the strategies for managing the influence of online platforms. These disagreements, while present, were not overpowering, and the session maintained a constructive atmosphere focused on improvement rather than conflict. This level of disagreement warrants a rating of 2 on a scale of 1 to 5, indicating a moderate level of discord but with a clear focus on addressing the issue at hand.