Unhealthy Confusion

Unhealthy Confusion reveals how the Healthy Schools Programme is being used as a vehicle to impose a liberal and permissive type of sex education on pupils in many parts of the country. Responses to Family Education Trust’s survey of all 152 local authorities in England reveal considerable levels of inconsistency with regard to the manner in which the Healthy Schools criteria and guidance are being interpreted and applied in relation to the delivery of sexual health messages in schools. Although most local authorities recognise that schools are entitled to decide for themselves which external agencies they invite to contribute to their sex and relationship education programme in theory, there are significant differences in the level of local authority prescription in practice, with some authorities are taking an overly prescriptive approach and insisting on policies and practices that are not required by law or by the Healthy Schools criteria.