Lessons to prevent sexual abuse should be mandatory

Some of the country’s leading child safety experts have demanded that a subject which teaches children about sexual abuse and relationships becomes mandatory.

Leading child safety experts have called for a subject that educates children on issues such as sexual exploitation and abuse to become mandatory in schools.

The demands come a year after reports confirmed that more than 1,400 children were sexually exploited by gangs in Rotherham between 1997 and 2013.

In order to help raise awareness of sexual exploitation and abuse, leading child safety experts, including the NSPCC, Barnardo’s, and the Children’s Commissioner, have asked that personal, social, health and economic education becomes compulsory in schools.

These demands follow the recommendation made by the Commons Education Committee last February that PSHE should be introduced as a core curriculum subject to ensure pupils receive education on issues like sexual consent.

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But despite ongoing inquiries into the Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal, the government has still not responded to the committee’s advice.

According to Ofsted reports, PHSE still remains a sub-standard provision in schools and is often taught by under-qualified teachers.

Peter Wanless, NSPCC chief executive, said: “With the potential dangers from online sexual predators and the horrifying exploitation cases of recent years there couldn’t be a more crucial time for children to learn about staying safe.

“There is no question PSHE should be on every curriculum as it is at the frontline of child protection. Without it there is a worrying gap that could leave children at serious risk of harm and sadly ignorant about healthy and caring relationships.”

Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield, OBE, reiterated this. She said: “If we are to help to protect all children from the sexual abuse and exploitation we have seen in towns such as Rotherham, it is critical that we equip them with the skills to identify unhealthy relationships.

“For this reason I am a strong supporter of making PSHE statutory. We will not be doing all we can to minimise harm until we do so.”

PSHE addresses matters such as personal safety, online hazards, bullying and healthy relationships. Evidence suggests that pupils who are taught PSHE are more likely to report abuse they may encounter.

A Department for Education spokesman said: “High-quality PSHE and relationship education has an important role to play helping young people make informed decisions and ensuring they know what support is available.

“Sex and relationship education is compulsory in all maintained secondary schools and many primary schools also teach it in an age appropriate manner.”

Source: telegraph.co.uk

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