MPs vote to block Compulsory SRE in schools

Conservative MPs have voted to block plans for sex and relationship education (SRE) to be made compulsory.

In Parliament, an all-female group of MPs tabled an amendment to the Children and Social Work Bill to make lessons on “sex and relationships education, same-sex relationships, sexual consent, sexual violence and domestic violence” mandatory in all UK schools.

In a vote of ten Conservative and five Labour MPs, the amendment was rejected – with the vote divided 10-5 between parties lines.

Over the past year, Education Secretary Justine Greening has suggested discussions about reforming SRE guidance, which currently allows free schools and academies to opt out of teaching the subject in class.

At present, state schools are obligated to cover the biological aspects of sex education, but teaching pupils about the social or emotional aspects of sex, or LGBT issues, is not a requirement.

Earlier this week, a survey by Barnados revealed that 7 out of 10 schoolchildren want compulsory sex education classes.