Sex Education

Sex Education (Primary)

Sex education is not compulsory in primary schools, but we recommend that
primaries teach sex education in years 5 and/or 6, in line with content about conception
and birth, which forms part of the national curriculum for science. The national curriculum
for science includes subject content in related areas, such as the main external body
parts, the human body as it grows from birth to old age (including puberty) and
reproduction in some plants and animals. Schools may also cover human reproduction in
the science curriculum, but where they do so, this should be in line with the factual
description of conception in the science curriculum.

Primary schools should consult parents about the content of anything that will be
taught within sex education. This process should include offering parents support in
talking to their children about sex education and how to link this with what is being taught
in school as well as advice about parents’ right to request withdrawal from sex education.